In the early sixth century BCE, Nebuchadnezzar II transformed Babylon into the jewel of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Among his many building projects were the Ishtar Gate, the Processional Way, and the ceremonial halls of his palace. These spaces were richly decorated with glazed brick reliefs, the most striking of which were the striding lions. Rows of lions marched along the walls, their bodies stretched in motion, symbolizing both royal power and divine protection. The lion was especially linked to Ishtar, goddess of love and war, who was often shown riding a chariot pulled by lions. For Nebuchadnezzar, surrounding himself with these images reinforced his authority as both king and chosen of the gods. The reliefs were made with great technical skill. Craftsmen pressed clay into molds, cut it into brick-sized pieces, and fired them before applying bright glazes. Marks were added to guide proper assembly, ensuring that the lines of each striding beast matched when the wall rose. Care was taken to hide the joints, making the lions appear as continuous figures rather than brickwork mosaics. When finished, the walls shimmered in vibrant blues, yellows, and whites, impressing visitors as they walked toward the temple of Marduk or entered the king’s throne room. Centuries later, Babylon’s ruins collapsed into the earth. Between 1899 and 1917, German archaeologist Robert Koldewey led an expedition that uncovered the fragments of these walls. His team carefully reassembled the fallen tiles, reconstructing the Ishtar Gate and sections of the Processional Way, now displayed in Berlin’s Pergamon Museum. During this work, some panels were sold to other institutions. In 1937, the Royal Ontario Museum acquired one of these reconstructed lions, bringing a piece of Nebuchadnezzar’s palace to Toronto. Today, the striding lion relief remains one of the museum’s most iconic objects, a vivid reminder of Babylon’s grandeur and the enduring power of its symbols.

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Striding Lion, Ishtar Gate