Ishtar_Gate_Formal_Analysis

Formal Analysis - Ishtar Gate The Ishtar Gate is one of the greatest treausres of Neo-Babylonian and Persian period. It was built during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II around 575BCE. The gate is located at the end of one of the world's first streets, Processional Way. In addition, through the Processional Way, the gate also guarded the northern entrace to the city of Babylon. Moreover, the gate itself is approximately 40 feet tall and has double arch gate, consisting of two arches spaced by an interior passage. The gate is made of mud brick, surfaced with glazed clay bricks of a very deep blue color. However, the gate is decorated and inlayed yellow and colorfully glazed brickwork depicting lions and dragons, palm trees, and geometric designs. In addition, the gate is known to lead into the city of Babylon and represent the power of Babylon. On top, the decorations of dragons on the gate are sacred to the god Marduk, while bulls and lions are deamed sacred to a variety of other Mesopotamian dieties. Last, but not least, the purpose for building the gate was to beautify and protect the city of Babylon, and to dedicate it to the goddess Ishtar. Next, the Ishtar Gate is one of the large impressive and artistically decorated construction. According to me, the whole gate is composed with the square and rectangle shapes and the circular arch in the middle. However, these shapes then seems to split the gate into three sections, making the left and right sides look like a tall rectangle shapes, and the middle side look like a short rectangle shape along with a circular yellow arch in the front and flat and clear rectangle ceiling on the top. As a result, when you put the three sections of the gate together, it compose it as the complete square shapes. Moreover, the entire gate is created in a symmetrical way. Also, the three sections of the gate are equally splited into parts along with equal size, and the same amount of tiles, designs, colors, and textures. Furthermore, the Ishtar Gate is made of a large arcuated opening flanked by towers, and features glazed bricks with molded reliefs of animals, real and imagenary. Morever, the decoration of the gate include rosettes and linear borders of bricks in alternating colours against a predominating blue background, and the commanding several profile figures of Marduk and Nabu's dragon and Adad's bull. Additionally, the lining the Processional Way leading up to the gate there are reliefs of Ishtar's sacred lion, glazed in yellow, brown, and red against a blue background. On top, dedicated to the Babylonian godess Ishtar, the gate was constructed of blue glazed square and rectangle tiles with alternating rows of dragons and bulls. In addition, the Ishtar Gate is created pretty balanced. On top of the gate, there are same numbers of glazed bricks alternating against a predominate blue background, and there are same numbers of profile figures of dragons, bulls, and lions. For example, the number of yellow bulls, dragons, and lions on the left side of the gate are same as the number of yellow bulls, dragons, and lions on the right side of the gate; yet, the number of these figures are also same in the center of the gate. Moreover, the numbers of hierachy tiles on top are also build equally. Along with this, some textures, designs, colors, and lines used to create the gate are pretty balanced on three sides. Additionally, the horizontal lines, vertical lines, and curved lines used on the Ishtar Gate are very dominate. They control the whole gate and stands out because of its color yellow. They are mainly used to add an interesting designed border around the gate and to add a interesting textures to the gate. However, these lines are very expressive and create a very happy feeling beacause of its color yellow. On top, the lines used on the gate seem to have some kind of movement going on and make our eye follow along with it. Last, the gate seems to not use any implied lines, it seems to use only horizontal, vertical and curved lines that are pretty dominate. Moreover, the Ishtar Gate is famous for its focal point, which is the curved arch door in the center. The arch in the middle is designed using the curved lines and curved dots. Besides that, the curved arch uses the number of figures such as bulls and dragons on the side to add an interesting desings and textures. All of these designs and textures are actual and are created using the yellow color along with the predominating blue background. Furthermore, there is an intersting square tiles stacked up on top of the arch in a hiearchy style; and, there is also a flat and clear ceiling that stands out when you look on top. Last, but not least, the Ishtar Gate uses a very intersting colors such as yellow and blue. These colors seem to be very vivid and quite complementary to each other. Also, these colors are quite warm and high saturated. On the gate, the whole background is desinged using the blue color; and, all the borders, designs, and textures are desinged using the yellow color. Furthermore, when you look at both of these colors together, the yellow seem to stands out more forward, catches the attention, and expresses a very happy feeling. At the end, the whole gate seem to be very smooth, and contains no negative spaces. In conclusion, the construction of the Ishtar Gate took place around the sixth centry BCE, on the orders of Nebuchadnezzar II, a famous ruler of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar ordered this project to honor the Babylonian godess, Ishtar, and to beautify the city. The gate is constructed as a double gate, with a covered promenade known as the Processional Way stretching from one gate to the other. The gateway is completely covered with beautifuly colored glazed bricks; and, the frieze of the gate shows alternating rows of dragons and bulls in yellow on a blue background while the Processional Way is lined with lions. Today, the Ishtar Gate has been restored and installed in a German museum, and has become famous around the world.