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Dragon of the Ishtar Gate |
 In 1902, archaeologists unearthed the remains of the infamous city of Babylon, including its fabled Ishtar Gate. The Gate's most intruiging feature is a relief carved in the stone, depicting two creatures. The first -- called the Re'em -- was easily identified as the now extinct type of cattle called the urus, but the second creature -- the Sirrush -- wasn't so easily identified. With a long scaled body and tail, a long neck and lizard- or snake-like head, the Sirrush also claimed a rather unique feature -- bird-like feet on its hind legs. It was an odd looking creature by the standards of its 1902 discoverers, however we now know that several species of dinosaurs did indeed have bird-like feet. Was the Dragon of the Ishtar Gate a relic dinosaur? Some think so, some don't. Did it even exist anywhere but in the minds Babylonian artists? As with all cryptids, this too is a point of contention. In the late 1930s, a science writer by the name of Willie Ley began research the Sirrush in Babylonian art history, and found that not only does it appear in other works, but was actually a common feature of art spanning thousands of years. With the rumours of dinosaur-like creatures stalking the dark corners of Africa, Ley believed that it was possible the Babylonians had not only heard of such a creature, but have seen one -- or even had one living in captivity within their city walls, behind the Ishtar Gate. - entry provided by Jim Harnock
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