Within these walls were the palaces of the Babylonian kings, Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezzar (625-561 B.C.), the temples of the national god Marduk or Merodach and other Babylonian deities, a broad straight road, Aiburschabu, running north and south from palaces to temples, a stately portal spanning this road at the Istar Gate, many private houses in the Merkes quarter, and an inner town-wall perhaps of earlier date.

Street and gate were built or rebuilt by Nebuchadnezzar.

He, as he declares in various inscriptions, 'paved the causeway with limestone flags for the procession of the Great Lord Marduk.' He made the Istar Gate 'with glazed brick and placed on its threshold colossal bronze bulls and ferocious serpent dragons'.

Along the street thus built the statue of Marduk was borne in solemn march on the Babylonian New Year's Day, when the king paid yearly worship to the god of his country.[14] [13] F.H.Weissbach, _Stadtbild von Babylon_ (_Der alte Orient_, fasc.

5); R.Koldewey, _Tempel von Babylon und Borsippa_, plates i, ii; S.Langdon, _Expositor_, 1909, pp.