A scholarly essay by Clare Fitzgerald, published by New York University's Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, checked directly at its own URL. Its strength is a close account of the craft process behind the gate, how Babylonian artisans molded, glazed and fired individual bricks and assembled them like a puzzle, and of the Mesopotamian belief that such artisans manifested divine power through their work. Its argument, that the gate's animal reliefs served a protective and manifesting religious function rather than being decorative alone, is cited here as the essay's own scholarly reading.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier2
Clare Fitzgerald's essay, published by New York University's Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, the middle tier reflecting a scholarly institute essay rather than a peer reviewed journal article, notwithstanding its close, institutionally grounded account of the craft process it describes. NotesChecked directly at its own URL (ISAW Newsletter 25). Fitzgerald describes the mushhushshu dragon sacred to Marduk, the auroch sacred to Adad, and lions sacred to Ishtar, and the Babylonian belief that the artisans (ummanu) who made such works, and the clay itself, carried a connection to creation and to the gods.
Citation
PublisherInstitute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University
URLhttps://isaw.nyu.edu/publications/newsletters/025/ishtar
Source TypeEssay
Connections
Associated With
This source names Babylonians directly: "A scholarly essay by Clare Fitzgerald, published by New York University's Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, checked directly at its own URL."
Source Clare Fitzgerald, "A Wonder to Behold: Craftsmanship and the Creation of Babylon's Ishtar Gate" (ISAW, NYU)
This source names Mesopotamians directly: "A scholarly essay by Clare Fitzgerald, published by New York University's Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, checked directly at its own URL."
Source Clare Fitzgerald, "A Wonder to Behold: Craftsmanship and the Creation of Babylon's Ishtar Gate" (ISAW, NYU)
This source names New York directly: "by Clare Fitzgerald, published by New York University's Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, checked directly at its own URL."
Source Clare Fitzgerald, "A Wonder to Behold: Craftsmanship and the Creation of Babylon's Ishtar Gate" (ISAW, NYU)
Claims Backed By This Source (17 claims)
This source backs 17 claims across the atlas. As facts: 9 well-attested. As cited relationships: 6 holds. Plus 2 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Sources, 9 claims: 6 well-attested, 3 holds.
- Sacred Art & Iconography, 6 claims: 2 well-attested, 3 holds, 1 general references.
- Articles, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
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