Parthenon and Goddess Ishtar
During the Ancient time period architecture and religion were very sacred to cities. There two beliefs were prominent in Babylon and Greece. Not only did architecture represent the gods and goddesses, it also represented the city as a whole. Buildings depicted what the people thought was most significant in their city. In my interpretation paper, I will explain how each cities people believed they were the chosen ones.
In Babylon during Ishtar Gate into Babylonian was built during the Neo-Babyolian time period . The original audience of this Gate were the civilians of the city of Babylon. These civilians social status were merchants of both sexes. In Babylon The Ishtar Gate was built to honor the goddess Ishtar, and to give the civilians a sense of security (Bernard, Daniel) . This Gate was the 8th gate to enter the city (Bernard, Daniel). The Gates walls were covered in lions, which represented the Goddess of love, war, and fertility- the Goddess Ishtar (Bernard, Daniel). The civilians believed that they were the chosen people; they were they group the Gods and Goddess ' adored. Being overtaken once by outsiders was a drastic moment for the town (Bernard, Daniel). Now having the 50ft walls surrounding them and protecting them, they have a sense that the Goddess Ishtar is protecting them from the outsiders, and unwanted civilians(Bernard, Daniel).
Outsiders view of the Gate of Ishtar differed from the views of the civilians. Outsiders believed that the Gods and Goddess were trying to punish the Babylonians and segregate them from other civilizations and societies. For example, If Greek merchants were to travel to that side of town when entering the gates, the lions on the walls would face them confronting them. They may interpret this as a warning or a threat to watch out
In Greece they believed they had the true gods, and all others were false. The Greek temples served as shrines for their gods (Chatziandreou, Nikolaos). The Acropolis of Athens
In Babylon during Ishtar Gate into Babylonian was built during the Neo-Babyolian time period . The original audience of this Gate were the civilians of the city of Babylon. These civilians social status were merchants of both sexes. In Babylon The Ishtar Gate was built to honor the goddess Ishtar, and to give the civilians a sense of security (Bernard, Daniel) . This Gate was the 8th gate to enter the city (Bernard, Daniel). The Gates walls were covered in lions, which represented the Goddess of love, war, and fertility- the Goddess Ishtar (Bernard, Daniel). The civilians believed that they were the chosen people; they were they group the Gods and Goddess ' adored. Being overtaken once by outsiders was a drastic moment for the town (Bernard, Daniel). Now having the 50ft walls surrounding them and protecting them, they have a sense that the Goddess Ishtar is protecting them from the outsiders, and unwanted civilians(Bernard, Daniel).
Outsiders view of the Gate of Ishtar differed from the views of the civilians. Outsiders believed that the Gods and Goddess were trying to punish the Babylonians and segregate them from other civilizations and societies. For example, If Greek merchants were to travel to that side of town when entering the gates, the lions on the walls would face them confronting them. They may interpret this as a warning or a threat to watch out
In Greece they believed they had the true gods, and all others were false. The Greek temples served as shrines for their gods (Chatziandreou, Nikolaos). The Acropolis of Athens
Cited: Chatziandreou, Nikolaos. "World Heritage."Acropolis of Athens. N.p., Feb.-Mar. 2004. Web. 9 July 2013. Bernard, Daniel. "Ancient Babylonia - The Ishtar Gate."Ancient Babylonia - The Ishtar Gate. N.p., June-July 2001. Web. 10 July 2013.