The museum was specifically designed to accommodate massive ancient structures that could not fit into existing galleries.
The Pergamon Altar was discovered in 1878 by German engineer Carl Humann in modern-day Turkey.
The museum building was constructed between 1910 and 1930 based on designs by Alfred Messel and Ludwig Hoffmann.
The Ishtar Gate was reconstructed in Berlin using original glazed bricks excavated from Babylon in the early 20th century.
The Mshatta Facade, a 33-meter-long section of an 8th-century Umayyad palace, was a gift from the Ottoman Sultan to Kaiser Wilhelm II.
The museum's foundations are built on wooden pilings due to the sandy and marshy soil of the Spree river island.
During World War II, many of the museum's monumental exhibits were walled in or protected with sandbags to survive Allied bombing raids.
The Pergamonmuseum is a prominent institution on Berlin's Museum Island, housing world-class collections of classical antiquities, the Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Museum of Islamic Art. The museum is currently undergoing a comprehensive, multi-phase renovation as part of the Masterplan Museumsinsel, which began in 2013. The main building, including the hall containing the Pergamon Altar, remains closed to the public during this extensive structural reconstruction. The museum's collections are historically significant for their large-scale architectural reconstructions brought to Berlin during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the Processional Way are among its most famous architectural displays. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble that constitutes the Museumsinsel complex.
The external facade and the view of the museum from the Kupfergraben canal side.
Check the official website for current temporary exhibitions, as parts of the collection may be displayed in other locations while the main building is closed.
Book time-slot tickets well in advance if any temporary exhibit or gallery space is accessible, as capacity is limited.
Focus on the surrounding buildings of the Museumsinsel while the main Pergamonmuseum building remains inaccessible.
Do not show up expecting to see the Pergamon Altar, as the main wing is currently closed for major long-term renovations.
The main building and the hall containing the Pergamon Altar are closed for extensive renovations; check the official website for details on limited temporary gallery openings.
No photography with flash or tripods; keep voices low to maintain a respectful environment for fragile artifacts.
