Detail of the Babylonian Ishtar Gate depicting the principal Babylonian deity Marduk, with its typical serpent's head, viper's horns, scorpion's tail, front feline paws and rear bird claws.
These polychrome relief tiles were excavated in the 1930s by the German archaeologist Robert Koldewey. The tiles were completely shattered, requiring around two years to clean, preserve and reassemble. The more vivid blue tiles surrounding the figure were recreated using the original glazing process to complete the front of the restored Ishtar Gate at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.
