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| Hoofdauteurs: | , |
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| Formaat: | Recurso digital |
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| Gepubliceerd in: |
Zenodo
2025
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| Online toegang: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17777499 |
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- The Ishtar Gate of ancient Babylon, a monumental entry point into the city's inner sanctum, stands as one of the most iconic surviving examples of Neo-Babylonian art and architecture. Constructed during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (c. 605-562 BCE), this structure, with its distinctive blue glazed bricks and intricate animal reliefs, transcends mere architectural function to serve as a profound statement of royal authority and divine legitimation. This paper delves into the iconographic program of the Ishtar Gate, specifically examining how the carefully selected zoomorphic figures—lions, mushussu-dragons, and aurochs—alongside the gate's azure hue, collectively articulated Nebuchadnezzar II's divine right to rule. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining art historical analysis, textual evidence from royal inscriptions, and an understanding of Mesopotamian religious cosmology, we decode the semiotics embedded within this 'Azure Threshold'. The research posits that the gate acted as a carefully crafted piece of state propaganda, visually communicating the king's intimate connection to the patron deities of Babylon, his role as a protector of cosmic order, and his undisputed military and spiritual prowess, thereby solidifying his dynastic legitimacy in the eyes of both subjects and potential adversaries. The gate's function as a liminal space further enhanced its symbolic power, physically and metaphorically guiding one into a realm sanctioned and overseen by the gods through their chosen earthly representative, Nebuchadnezzar II.