Historic Site · Hillah, Iraq
Ishtar Gate
The Ishtar Gate was the eighth gate to the inner city wall of Babylon (in the area of present-day Hillah, Babylon Governorate, Iraq). Built c. 569 BC.
Photo: Maison méditerranéenne des Sciences de l'homme / National Center for Scientific Research / University of Provence - Aix-Marseille I via Wikimedia Commons, Licence Ouverte. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Hillah, Iraq |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Built | c. 569 BC |
| Coordinates | 32.5433° N, 44.4222° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Ishtar Gate is known for
The Ishtar Gate was the eighth gate to the inner city wall of Babylon (in the area of present-day Hillah, Babylon Governorate, Iraq).
About Ishtar Gate
The Ishtar Gate was the eighth gate to the inner city wall of Babylon (in the area of present-day Hillah, Babylon Governorate, Iraq). It was constructed c. 569 BC by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II on the north side of the city. It was part of a grand walled processional way leading into the city.
History
King Nebuchadnezzar II reigned 604–562 BC, the peak of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He is known as the biblical conqueror who captured Jerusalem. He ordered the construction of the gate and dedicated it to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. The gate was constructed using glazed brick with alternating rows of bas-relief mušḫuššu (dragons), aurochs (bulls), and lions, symbolizing the gods Marduk, Adad, and Ishtar respectively.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Hillah |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Baghdad International Airport (SDA) |
| Distance from the airport | 51.3 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Al Najaf International Airport (NJF) · Najaf, Iraq · 38.2 miles away
- Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base (BGW) · Baghdad, Iraq · 50.9 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Iraq
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Ishtar Gate?
The Ishtar Gate was the eighth gate to the inner city wall of Babylon (in the area of present-day Hillah, Babylon Governorate, Iraq).
Where is Ishtar Gate located?
Ishtar Gate is in Hillah, Iraq. Its coordinates are 32.5433° N, 44.4222° E.
How do I get to Ishtar Gate?
The nearest town is Hillah, and the nearest airport is Baghdad International Airport (SDA), about 51.3 miles away (straight line).
When was Ishtar Gate built?
Ishtar Gate was built c. 569 BC.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar_Gate — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26082 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.