What is happening?

The German Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning, in charge of the renovation of the Pergamon Museum has announced that the museum that contains the Ishtar Gate will be in renovation until 2037 with certain parts of the exhibition opening by 2027[3].

Despite the German government not returning this marvelous archeological artifact, it is now hiding it from the public for the next 14 years!

What can we do?

Please sign this petition to stop the exhibition closure and to make the Ishtar gate accessible again to the public and to make it further affordable for Iraqi citizens to visit and see. 

What is the Ishtar Gate doing in the Pergamon?

The acquisition of the Ishtar Gate by the Pergamon Museum is surrounded in controversy as the gate was excavated as part of the excavation of Babylon, and immediately shipped off to Berlin where it remains to this day. The government of Iraq has petitioned the German government to return the gate many times, notably in 2002 as well as in 2009[2].

The Ishtar Gate was the eighth gate to the inner city of Babylon in the area of present-day Hillah, Babil Governorate, Iraq. It was constructed circa 575 BCE by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II on the north side of the city. 

 

 

 

Sources:

[1] https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/berlins-pergamon-museum-close-renovation-14-years-1234662709/

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar_Gate

[3] https://www.dw.com/en/berlins-pergamon-museum-will-spend-next-eight-years-without-its-famous-altar/a-36337653