Here is the temple of Ninmach. With this temple we begin the series of the
great temples of Babylon. The contrast between these temples and the private
constructions was gripping. The temple of Ninmach was close to the great Processional
Way and the Gate of Ishtar. When visitors came into the city through the Gate of Ishtar,
they had on their right the gigantic façades of the royal Palace, and on their left the
vision of the temple of Ninmach.
Under this angle we notice on the right the entrance to the city through the Gate of Ishtar and the walls of the royal Palace.
After they had crossed the bridge over the canal that went through Babylon from the Gate
of Zabab until the royal Palace, visitors could see on their left hand side another great
Babylonian temple, the temple of Ishtar. Ishtar was the goddess of Love and Fecundity.
Greeks have made her their goddess Aphrodite. This temple had the style of the ziggurats
with several levels. All the temples of Babylon had their façade covered with glazed bricks.
A far sight of the temple of Ishtar. One notices in the foreground the cana lthat crosses the city and in the background the sacred area.
On the other side of the processional way, a much less imposing temple, the Nabû temple, which can be seen in the centre of the picture. According to Babylonian mythology, Nabû might be Marduk’s son. God of scripture, scribes and wisdom, its main temple was situated in Borsippa,
outside Babylon, but there were manu other temples, including that of Babylon.
