The Pergamonmuseum: A Deep Dive
A single great museum deserves more than a paragraph. The deep dive below covers the building's history, the structure of the collection, the canonical works, the lesser-visited highlights, and a practical visiting strategy.
The three departments
The Pergamonmuseum holds the Collection of Classical Antiquities (Greek and Roman), the Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Museum of Islamic Art — three departments in one building on Museum Island.
Pergamon Altar
The Great Altar of Pergamon (Hellenistic Greek, c.180 BCE) was excavated by German archaeologists from 1878 and reconstructed in Berlin from 1901. The Gigantomachy frieze — 113 metres of marble relief depicting gods battling giants — is one of antiquity's greatest sculptural cycles.
Ishtar Gate
The Ishtar Gate of Babylon (c.575 BCE) was reconstructed in Berlin from glazed brick excavated by Robert Koldewey 1899-1917. The reconstructed processional way leads through the gate into the museum.
Market Gate of Miletus
The reconstructed Roman gate from Miletus (second century CE), 30 metres wide and 17 metres high, dominates the Greek-Roman gallery.
Aleppo Room
The Aleppo Room, a richly painted seventeenth-century reception room from a Christian merchant's house in Aleppo, is the centrepiece of the Islamic Art department.
Restitution debate
Turkey has requested return of the Pergamon Altar; Greece has requested return of various objects; Iraq has requested return of Babylonian material. Negotiations remain ongoing.
Renovation 2013-2027+
A major multi-decade renovation has closed the Pergamon Altar wing and other sections in stages. The Pergamon Altar itself is not expected to be visible to the public until at least 2027. The Panorama by Yadegar Asisi opposite shows a 360-degree reconstruction of ancient Pergamon during the closure.
Visiting strategy
Check current opening status — most of the building is closed; Ishtar Gate area remains accessible. Combined ticket with other Museum Island institutions recommended.
A great museum is never fully absorbed in a single visit. Plan return visits, vary the time of day, and rotate between the canonical and the lesser-known galleries.
Where will you go first?
Pin every institution mentioned above using the interactive map — filter by country, collection type, or admission policy to plan a realistic itinerary.