The Ziggurat

A virtual "walkthrough" of a classical Mesopotamian Ziggurat

The theme of pyramidal structures used as dedication to deities or the worship of higher figures is prevalent throughout cultures across the globe, including the classical pyramids of Egypt, the Mesoamerican step pyramids throughout Central and South America, and the ziggurats of Mesopotamia. Ziggurats are four-sided “pyramidal structures which were … built one stage upon another, with a shrine, or a place of worship, at the topmost part” (Knight 55). The word “ziggurat” signifies “The Hill of Heaven” (Wight 2), which could refer to their use as a representation of a particular god’s home. Ziggurats were located in the major Sumerian cities, including Ur, Eridu, and Nippur. Each major city had its own patron god, for which the ziggurat provided an “earthly home.” Each ziggurat mound was part of a larger temple complex; many had courtyards stationed in front of the structure. 

 Woolley's drawing of what the ziggurat of Ur would have looked like

Ziggurat, ca. 1920's

The ziggurat at Ur, which was excavated in its entirety by Sir Leonard Woolley and his team in the 1920’s, is the best preserved ziggurat in the Mesopotamian area. The ziggurat is made of “unbaked mudbrick with a skin of baked brick and the sides are slightly bowed both horizontally and vertically in order to give the illusion of being straight” (Crawford 110). Indentations and recesses were constructed within the walls to lend an interesting design. There were many gods and goddesses of Mesopotamian religion, but only the most important ones would have ziggurats dedicated to them. The people of Ur, for instance, placed offerings such as “barley, cattle, milk, cheese, linen, wool, copper, gold, etc.” (Wight 3) for the particular god on the ziggurat. While pyramids in ancient Egyptian culture were tombs for the pharaohs and close associations to the kings, ziggurats for the Sumerian culture were used for the dedication to a particular god or goddess. 

Artist's rendering of a New Year's Festival

Scholars have debated on the true purpose of the ziggurat, including reflecting “a folk memory of the mountainous country from which the Sumerians may, or may not, have originated” (Crawford 108). This is thought because many of the ziggurats’ names contain the Sumerian word for mountain, and that they have the relative size and shape to evoke a mountainous form. Other scholars argue that it was a focal point for sacred festivities, such as the sacred marriage between the priestess of the goddess (in the case of our class, Inanna) and the king of the city and the new year festival (Crawford 108). Another topic of deliberation is the influence of the ziggurat on modern day Arabic buildings. R.P. Dougherty notes that both ziggurats of Sumerian times and modern day Arab structures both have “sloping sides and pronounced panels” (Dougherty 69). Although modern Arabic buildings most likely had other influences than mainly the ziggurat, the structure of the step pyramid is seen throughout modern day architecture all over the world. 

 Ziggurat of Ur, ca. 1920's

 Ziggurat of Ur, reconstructed

Works Cited

 (2005). Ancient ziggurat at Ali Air Base Iraq. [Photograph]. Retrieved January 20, 2014 from en.wikipedia.org/wiki

Crawford, H. (1993). Sumer and the Sumerians. Available from http://www.ebook3000.com/Sumer-and-the-Sumerians_174877.html

German, S. (n.d.). Ziggurat of Ur. Retrieved from smarthistory.khanacademy.org/ziggurat-of-ur.html

Iraq, Ziggurat, Ur. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/matpc.13224/

Knight, E.W. 1933. Digging up the past in Iraq. The University of North Carolina Press 16(2), 54-60.

McDermott, J. (1967). Painting of New Year’s Day at the Ziggurat of Ur. [Painting]. Retrieved January 20, 2014 from http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/759360  

Ruined ziggurat at Ur. [Photograph]. Retrieved January 20, 2014 from http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/759360

Wight, F.H. 1955. Highlights of archaeology in bible lands. Retrieved from baptistbiblebelievers.com/Portals/0/Bible Times/Science/hab_04.pdf

Woolley, C. L. (n.d.). Drawing of the Ziggurat at Ur. [Drawing]. Retrieved January 20, 2014 from http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/759360