Pergamon Museum: Jewel of Berlin's Museum Island 🏛️✨

The Pergamon Museum, designed by German architect Alfred Messel and constructed under Ludwig Hoffmann (1910–1930), was originally built to house the monumental Pergamon Altar excavated from ancient Greece. Today, it stands as a crown jewel of Museum Island, renowned for its breathtaking collection of ancient Near Eastern, Greco-Roman, and Islamic architectural treasures. 🌟 Key Highlights (Pre-Renovation) Pergamon Altar (2nd century BC): A colossal Hellenic masterpiece dedicated to Zeus 🏺 Ishtar Gate (6th century BC): Babylon’s dazzling blue-tiled entrance with reliefs of dragons and bulls 🐉🔵 Market Gate of Miletus: A towering Roman gate restored to its former grandeur 🏛️ Islamic Art Collection: Intricate mosaics, carpets, and the ornate Aleppo Room 🧵 🛠️ Renovation Update ⚠️ Closed until 2027 (partial reopening) | Full completion by 2037 The museum is undergoing a €1.5 billion modernization to upgrade infrastructure and exhibition spaces. Some highlights (like the Ishtar Gate) will remain accessible in interim exhibitions elsewhere. 📜 Historical Journey WWII Damage: Heavily bombed; artifacts evacuated or looted (later partially repatriated) 💣 Cold War Division: Split between East/West Berlin; reunited post-1990 Architectural Legacy: Neo-Classical exterior with custom-built halls to reconstruct ancient monuments at full scale. 💡 Visitor Tips Check the official website for temporary exhibits during renovation 🌐 Pair with visits to the Neues Museum (Nefertiti Bust) and Alte Nationalgalerie 🖼️ Book timed tickets early—even partial reopenings will draw crowds! 🎟️ #PergamonMuseum #MuseumIsland #AncientWonders #BerlinCulture #ArtHistory