Ziggurat
A ziggurat is a significant architectural structure from ancient Mesopotamia, characterized by its stepped pyramid design and made primarily from mud brick. These monumental temples were typically located at the centers of cities and were dedicated to local deities, reflecting the cultural and religious practices of various Mesopotamian civilizations, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians, over nearly four millennia. The term "ziggurat" comes from the Akkadian word meaning "to rise high," which resonates with their purpose of elevating worshippers closer to the heavens.
The earliest ziggurats date back to around 4000 BCE, predating the Egyptian pyramids. Unlike pyramids, which served as tombs, ziggurats had a functional role in religious ceremonies, with temples at their summits where priests conducted rituals. Notable ziggurats include the Great Ziggurat of Ur and the well-preserved Chogha Zanbil in Iran. Ziggurats typically featured multiple layers, with external stairways providing access while emphasizing their prominence in the landscape, often designed to withstand flooding. The biblical legend of the Tower of Babel is thought to be inspired by the Etemenanki ziggurat in Babylon. In recognition of their historical significance, ziggurats contribute to the understanding of ancient urban life and spirituality in Mesopotamia.
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Ziggurat
A ziggurat (pronounced ZI-guh-rat) is a type of large ancient Mesopotamian structure that served as a temple. Ziggurats were stepped pyramids with inward-sloping walls made from mud brick. They were placed at city centers and were dedicated to local patron deities. Their great heights resulted from the Mesopotamians' desire to rise closer to their gods in the heavens. Ziggurats were typically a major feature in ancient Mesopotamian cities. They served an important role in various Mesopotamian cultures—including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians—for almost four thousand years. The most famous example is the Great Ziggurat at Ur.
Overview
The word ziggurat is derived from the Akkadian word zaqâru, meaning "to rise high." The first examples were built by the Sumerians in 4000 BCE. They predated the similarly designed Egyptian pyramids by several centuries. Unlike the pyramids, which served a funerary role, ziggurats had a religious function. Ziggurats were meant to see regular usage. The remains of one of the oldest known ziggurats were found at the archaeological site at Eridu, a Sumerian city thought to be one of the oldest human settlements in the world. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of approximately twenty-five ziggurats. The biblical legend of the Tower of Babel is believed to have been based on the Etemenanki Ziggurat of Babylon, which was recorded as rising 300 feet (91 meters) high and having a base about 300 feet (91 meters) wide. The Great Ziggurat of Ur was partially rebuilt in the 1980s by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. In its original form around 2100 BCE, it is estimated to have been 98 feet (30 meters) tall. The ziggurat became a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in 2016.
A ziggurat was typically constructed of mud or baked bricks, sometimes with a stone foundation. Mud was used to seal the spaces between bricks. Over time, the temple at the top of the ziggurat was torn down. A new platform was then rebuilt over the remains of the previous temple, which created a new step in the ziggurat. This accounts for the great height of some structures. Each platform was decorated with patterned mosaics of colored bricks or small niches cut into the wall. In the temple on the summit of each ziggurat, priests held a series of religious ceremonies that included offerings of food and wine to the gods. Each ziggurat received an individual name. For instance, the ziggurat located in the city of Eridu was called Eunir, meaning "House Temple-Tower," while the ziggurat in Babylon was named Etemenanki, meaning "House Platform of Heaven and Earth."
Ziggurats ranged between two and seven layers. Each layer consisted of a self-contained platform placed atop the larger layer below it. A series of external stairways provided access to the various levels. This system of external access helped guards secure the upper levels from invaders. Ziggurats' great height emphasized their relative importance to the community and may have helped them weather periods of flooding more easily. In addition, as Mesopotamia is generally a very flat region, ziggurats may have been designed to rise above the plains. The Sumerians in particular believed that their gods had come from the mountains, and the height of the ziggurats may have been designed to emulate the appearance of the gods' mountainous homes.
Bibliography
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