Pergamon Museum

Overview

The Pergamon Museum is one of the most visited museums in Europe, renowned for its monumental archaeological reconstructions. Located on Museum Island, it houses three collections: the Antikensammlung, the Vorderasiatisches Museum, and the Museum für Islamische Kunst.

Highlights

• Ishtar Gate: The brilliant blue-tiled Processional Way and Gate of Babylon (6th century BC) reconstructed at full scale.
• Market Gate of Miletus: A two-storey Roman gate from 120 AD reassembled stone by stone.
• Aleppo Room: A beautifully painted 17th-century reception room from a Syrian merchant's house.

History

Opened in 1930, the museum was designed to display architectural reconstructions too large for any other gallery. German archaeological expeditions in the 19th and early 20th centuries unearthed the Babylonian and Pergamon treasures exhibited here.

Visitor Tips

• Note: The main Pergamon Museum building closed completely in October 2023 for extensive renovations until at least 2027. Visitors can instead experience the 'Pergamonmuseum. Das Panorama' exhibition nearby, which features a monumental Yadegar Asisi 360° panorama and original artifacts.
• Audio guide: Highly recommended for context on the ancient Near Eastern galleries.
• Duration: 2–2.5 hours.