- What was the ishtar gate for or what was its original purpose?

The Ishtar Gate was a grand entrance to the city of Babylon, built around 575 BCE by King Nebuchadnezzar II. It was decorated with glazed brick reliefs of dragons and bulls, and was meant to honor the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. The gate was part of a grand processional way that led to the inner city of Babylon, and was meant to impress visitors with its grandeur and beauty.