Bible History Never Looked So Good

I’ve studied world history — a few times. I’ve also studied Bible history — a few more times. And finally, I’ve studied Art History — not quite as much as Bible or world history, but still a decent amount. Therefore, stepping foot into the Pergamon museum was pretty much like having twenty-seven years of learned knowledge spring to life and interact with each other. 

It started with the Greeks to which I went, eh, I would rather be OUTDOORS in GREECE experiencing ruins rather than INDOORS in GERMANY. 

Then I turned the corner. 

Hello, Ishtar Gate, built under King Nebuchadnezzar II, aka the King Nebuchadnezzar of Daniel. 

It’s massive — and this is the smaller gate. You just stand under it going woooooowwwww — until you spin around and discover—

The Code of Hammurabbi!!! WHAT?! ((Just learned, this one is an exact replica of the real one that’s in the Louvre. I refuse to let that take away my jaw drop at seeing the stele.))

Upon tearing yourself away from the massive Ishtar gate, you start roaming through rooms of Assyrian artifacts. 

Thoughts float through your head about twist perspective, combining side and frontal views of the figures — most notably seen in the art of the ancient Egyptians. 

Reminders of the different deities of the ancients are carved out in stone before you and then you head into this back corner and discover—

HITTITE CEREMONIAL TABLETS, WHAATT!!!!!!!!

I have seen Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian and Mespotamian artworks before. I have never ever come face to face with anything from the Hittites. This is absolutely 100% my favorite moment in Berlin. Seeing ceremonial tablets from the bloody Hittites. Never once would I have thought that tiny little corner room held such a unique experience. I’ve always been fascinated by the convergence of Bible and Secular History. I did a paper on the Egyptian Pharaoh’s trying to determine through different documentation in both the Bible and other sources who must have been the Pharaoh during the Exodus (I just can’t remember what my answer was….) Hittite ceremonial tablets — the same type of crazy, unexpected convergence. 

You then wander through the cone mosaics of Uruk (which quite possibly will be inspiring a future wine cork project…) and tile mosaics from Babylon before finishing off your circle of ancient history — all a bit of a letdown after stumbling across the Hittite ceremonial tablets.