Ninmaḫ temple
The Ninmaḫ temple in Babylon stood close to the Ishtar gate , on its eastern side. The temple is a typical Babylonian place of worship. Its ancient name was É-maḫ . The temple was dedicated to the mother goddess Ninḫursanga , also known as Ninmaḫ.
The entrance of the building is in the north and thus exactly opposite the city wall of Babylon. The building of Šamaš-šuma-ukin was built according to a founding inscription . The temple has a rectangular plan with a large inner courtyard. There was an altar in front of the entrance. The gate in the north led into an anteroom and from there into the courtyard. Opposite is the entrance to the Holy of Holies, which was reached via a vestibule. There are other rooms around the courtyard, but their function is uncertain. As inscriptions report, the building was renovated under Nabu-kudurri-usur II . In the temple there were numerous clay figures showing a standing, naked woman. Numerous texts were also found, most of which are, however, deliveries of building materials, lists of workers or lists of absence. Once a builder Labašschi is mentioned by name.
The temple was reconstructed by the Iraqi Antiquities Administration.
literature
- Robert Koldewey: Babylon Rising Again. Leipzig, 4th ext. Edition 1925; ISBN 3-406-31674-3 , pp. 55-65
Coordinates: 32 ° 32 ′ 36 ″ N , 44 ° 25 ′ 24 ″ E