Ziggurat1 Ziggurat Ziggurats (/ˈzɪɡʊˌræt/, Akkadian ziqqurat, D-stem of zaqāru "to build on a raised area") were massive structures built in the ancient Mesopotamian valley and western Iranian plateau, having the form of a terraced step pyramid of successively receding stories or levels. Notable ziggurats include the Great Ziggurat of Ur near Nasiriyah, Iraq; the Ziggurat of Aqar Quf near Baghdad, Iraq; Chogha Zanbil in Khūzestān, Iran; and Sialk near Kashan, Iran. Description The reconstructed facade of the Neo-Sumerian Great Ziggurat of Ur, near Nasiriyah, Iraq Ziggurats were built by the Sumerians, Babylonians, Elamites, Akkadians, and Assyrians for local religions. Each ziggurat was part of a temple complex which included other buildings. The precursors of the ziggurat were raised platforms that date from the Ubaid period[1] during the fourth millennium BC. The earliest ziggurats began near the end of the Early Dynastic Period.[2] The latest Mesopotamian ziggurats date from the 6th century BC. Built in receding tiers upon a rectangular, oval, or square platform, the ziggurat was a pyramidal structure with a flat top. Sun-baked bricks made up the core of the ziggurat with facings of fired bricks on the outside. The facings were often glazed in different colors and may have had astrological significance. Kings sometimes had their names engraved on these glazed bricks. The number of tiers ranged from two to seven. It is assumed that they had shrines at the top, but there is no archaeological evidence for this and the only textual evidence is from Herodotus.[3] Access to the shrine would have been by a series of ramps on one side of the ziggurat or by a spiral ramp from base to summit. The Mesopotamian ziggurats were not places for public worship or ceremonies. They were believed to be dwelling places for the gods and each city had its own patron god. Only priests were permitted on the ziggurat or in the rooms at its base, and it was their responsibility to care for the gods and attend to their needs. The priests were very powerful members of Sumerian society. One of the best-preserved ziggurats is Chogha Zanbil in western Iran. The Sialk ziggurat, in Kashan, Iran, is the oldest known ziggurat, dating to the early 3rd millennium BC. Ziggurat designs ranged from simple bases upon which a temple sat, to marvels of mathematics and construction which spanned several terraced stories and were topped with a temple. An example of a simple ziggurat is the White Temple of Uruk, in CAD rendering of Sialk's largest ziggurat based ancient Sumer. The ziggurat itself is the base on which the White on archeological evidence. Temple is set. Its purpose is to get the temple closer to the [citation needed] heavens, and provide access from the ground to it via steps. The Mesopotamians believed that these pyramid temples connected heaven and earth. In fact, the ziggurat at Babylon was known as Etemenankia or "House of the Platform between Heaven and Earth". [5] Aramco World Magazine.M. Since the shrine was accessible only by way of three stairways. 327-328. • A. around which a city was built. Dynastie von Ur (Leipzig 1942). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East (ed.[6] a small number of guards could prevent non-priests from spying on the rituals at the shrine on top of the ziggurat. yet archeological findings and historical accounts put this tower at seven multicolored tiers. Killick.[4] 2 Interpretation and significance According to Herodotus. as for example the 1967 flood. Roaf. Chadwick. ISBN 0-521-38850-3. Black & A. Turner. • M. The date of its original construction is unknown. . ISBN 0-226-63187-7. uk/ 3858/ 2/ TowerOfBabel. London: British Museum). history and cuneiform texts" Archiv fuer Orientforschung. • J. New York & London: Macmillan). pdf). matching the tops of the tiers. Millard. • R. soas. • R. "Ziggurat". Etemenanki. and the Stars". "L´origine et évolution de la ziggurat babylonienne".[7] Notes [1] [2] [3] [4] Crawford. Sumer and the Sumerians. AfO. Bienkowski & A.G. 7-24. or Etemenanki. 1992). 33.J. 75-95. Stone. E. ac. It is known that there were three staircases leading to the temple. (http:/ / eprints. "Calendars. Leo Oppenheim. 91-141. The Dictionary of Art (ed. at the top of each ziggurat was a shrine. P. Lenzen. Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch-Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux 21 (1970). such as cooking of sacrificial food and burning of carcasses of sacrificial animals. page 73-74 Crawford. (New York 1993). 675-676. • H. not much of even the base is left of this massive structure. (Chicago 1977). Ancient Mesopotamia. March–April 1968. Green. page 75 [7] Oppenheim. the name for the structure. pages 112. • Harriet Crawford. Andrew (2007) "The Tower of Babel: Archaeology. Meyers.[1] One practical function of the ziggurats was a high place on which the priests could escape rising water that annually inundated lowlands and occasionally flooded for hundreds of miles. 390-391. topped with a temple of exquisite proportions. vol. Ziggurats. Unfortunately. Die Entwicklung der Zikurrat von ihren Anfängen bis zur Zeit der III. and living quarters. although none of these shrines has survived. 5. bathrooms. 51 (2005/2006). with suggested dates ranging from the fourteenth to the ninth century BC. pages 32-33 [6] Crawford. J.A. Cambridge University Press. • E.Ziggurat An example of an extensive and massive ziggurat is the Marduk ziggurat. Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East (New York 1990). Each ziggurat was part of a temple complex that included a courtyard. vol. "Ziggurat". New York & Oxford 1997). is Sumerian and means "The Foundation of Heaven and Earth". page 85 George . storage rooms. 104-107. two of which (side flanked) were thought to have only ascended half the ziggurat's height. with textual evidence suggesting it existed in the second millennium.C. 326-328 References • T. Dictionary of the Ancient Near East (eds. pp. page 73 Crawford. "Ziggurat". University of Chicago Press. of ancient Babylon. Busink.[5] Another practical function of the ziggurat was for security. The Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies Bulletin (Toronto) 24 (Nov. The temple is thought to have been painted and maintained an indigo color. Larry S. Linda Black.. (1999). ISBN 0-14-026574-0. World History: Patterns of Interaction.html) .Ziggurat • Beck. ISBN 0-395-87274-X. (http://www. Penguin Books. Mesopotamia: The Invention of the City.iranian. Krieger. Evanston. (http://www.com/History/2004/April/Sialk/index. Naylor. Iran.chogha-zanbil. Phillip C. • Leick. Roger B. IL: McDougal Littell. 3 External links • Website of Choqa Zanbil ziggurat.com/) • Article on status of Sialk ziggurat. Gwendolyn (2002). Iran. Dahia Ibo Shabaka. Xcentaur. Templarion. Grandpafootsoldier. N5iln. Storm Rider. Capricorn42. Miracle Pen. Unyoyega. Samsknee. Lapsus Linguae. Yonatanh. FrancisTyers. Courcelles.org/licenses/by-sa/3. YorkBW. HexaChord.org/w/index. Meursault2004. Zereshk.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Bontenbal. AWhiteC. Raven in Orbit. Oore. Shauni. ShatteredSpiral. TwistOfCain. Chzz. Haggen Kennedy. Kingpin13. Kanonkas. El-Ahrairah.andrew. LauraFHilliger. Andrew Gray. 119. DaveSymonds. DevinCook. Cameronc. Coolcaesar. Katieh5584. Coinmanj. Kiore. Casper2k3. Andres. Daygum. TheSuave. 1051 anonymous edits Image Sources. Theda. Mmcannis. Charliewillits. Vegaswikian. Aeternium. King of Hearts. M. Wiki7657. Dougweller. Columbiafan. Vanwaffle. Aamrun. Shulgi. Little Mountain 5. WikipedianMarlith. Moonsday. GnuDoyng. Smjohnson85. Kurt2001. Waking. Johnnyboomboom. Beej. Spencerk. Escape Orbit. Kirachinmoku. JMCC1. Aruton. Delirium. Pouya.0 Unported //creativecommons. Limideen. DeadEyeArrow. Blainster. Qwyrxian. E. WereSpielChequers. RexNL. Lotje. Nikonguy58. Calabe1992. Caltas. Niceguyedc. Ziggurat. Mattgirling. 2D.org/w/index. Skribb. LeCire. PeterSymonds. Epbr123. Bjankuloski06en. Backslash Forwardslash.thoriyan. Billy ruth. Ryuukuro. Infrogmation. Alpha Quadrant (alt). Berardil. Sionus. Imz. Tombomp. The Thing That Should Not Be. Galoubet. Csernica. Flowerparty.wikipedia. Samscholes. Quantpole. Philip Trueman. Jcaraballo. Ruy Pugliesi.Fred. AnonGuy. Dbachmann. Huxley75. Peter Isotalo. HaeB. Biggerrack. Splogthepig.0 Contributors: en:User:Hardnfast File:SialkCAD. Nsaa. Wayne Slam.php?oldid=547719903 Contributors: -js-. TFNorman. G. El estremeñu. Basawala. Michael Hardy. Alexander Mclean.jpg Source: http://en. Licenses and Contributors File:Ancient ziggurat at Ali Air Base Iraq 2005. Strabismus. Ale jrb. Bs0u10e01. Dogears. Ryan032. Ori.g. SECProto. Alansohn. Reach Out to the Truth. Geof2323. LW77. Dreadstar. Cunard. Kbdank71. Ghiraddje. Pharaoh of the Wizards. Steven J. ТимофейЛееСуда. Dakatone. Chrislk02.wikipedia. Emilylau10. Amaling. The High Fin Sperm Whale. Gioto. Pomte. Irishguy. Some jerk on the Internet. Steeev. Snozberries1. Gdenk13.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 3. Robertd. CommonsDelinker. Discospinster. Previously ScienceApologist. FlyingToaster. Whosasking.vp. Allstarecho. Sectori. Pepper. Husond. Island. Thingg. Lenticel. Aforcez. Extransit. Uncle Dick. Doulos Christos. Vipinhari. Jamesontai. Roozbeh. Imnotminkus. SuddenFrost. Falcon8765. FelisLeo. Zscout370. Treyt021. Wdflake. Garzo. Verethor. Start545. Morpet. Nathan luongo. Anthonyalbright. Franklin. GeorgeLouis. Opelio. Hamtechperson. Crohnie. Miquonranger03. Kaare. Scientizzle. Olivier. Iridescent. clown will eat me. D. Dantheman531. AdjustShift. Khazar.jpg Source: http://en. Pyrrhus16. Shauni. Westerness. Kusma. Kylu. SilkTork. William M. Zzztriple2000. Twas Now. Solipsist. Glane23. Bongwarrior. Malhonen. Neddyseagoon. Vrenator. NellieBly. IRP. Ashley Y. Bevo. KGasso. Trisk. TheCatalyst31. Mussav. Lightdarkness. Dmitri Lytov. Tide rolls. Marek69. Random user 39849958. Larry laptop. Claggz.php?title=File:Ancient_ziggurat_at_Ali_Air_Base_Iraq_2005. MER-C. Justin Bacon. ArielGold. Drutt. Edward. Kahkonen. Trevor MacInnis. Boccobrock. Arthena. Kbh3rd. Ryucloud. Orgorg. Celarnor. JForget. Luckas Blade. Rjwilmsi. Gravitan. EdK.php?title=File:SialkCAD. Ginkgo100. Can't sleep. Williamrlinden. Niteshift36. Phildonnia. Quietbritishjim. Meegs. Deutschgirl. Deflective. Oxymoron83. AmiDaniel. Mindspillage. Odie5533. Njoecool270. Sceptre. Bnguyen. Ivan Štambuk. Evertype. Caknuck. Mgiganteus1. Darlene4. Bobo192.Article Sources and Contributors 4 Article Sources and Contributors Ziggurat Source: http://en. Perfect Proposal. 1 anonymous edits License Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3. IansAwesomePizza. Wikipelli.org/w/index. Denniss. Deor. Greensburger. Rmhermen. C.delanoy. Underwood. Kyle1278. Angela. Sam Korn. Tbhotch. Ulric1313. Adam Bishop. Vivio Testarossa. OlEnglish. Nathan. Terraflorin. Neilbeach. Excirial. ArcAngel. CharlotteWebb. Fingers-of-Pyrex. Bless sins. Rfc1394. Bryan Derksen. 1ForTheMoney. Mentifisto. J. Mr Adequate. Geg. Starnestommy. Giovanni33. Guesswhonotme. The Wiki Octopus. Manbemel. Sumerophile. Menchi. Thick as a Planck. Darth Panda. NawlinWiki. Whitehatnetizen. DerHexer. Jeffq. Ronhjones. Zoeperkoe. Teles. Leuko. Admiral777. Gatemansgc. IGeMiNix. DwightKingsbury. AndreaAllison. Mrdeath1234. Animum. Hairy Dude. Connolley. Jusdafax. West. DineshAdv. Apeloverage. RoyBoy. Kadooshka. Anderson. Flaming Ferrari. Anaxial.0/ . Mav. Adamjmartinez. Jennavecia. Fratley. Andi d. HamburgerRadio.wikipedia. Spencer. Brandon. Why Not A Duck. XDarklytez. Nkel0269. Nepenthes. Dogluva1357. Duydo1. Edderso. John254. Xanthoptica. Rich Janis. SadeqRahimi. Leptictidium. Pdcook. Izzedine. Tcncv. QmunkE. Kelovy. Drat. Farosdaughter. Tomdobb. MTHarden. Flewis. Stwalkerster. Someone the Person. Versus22. PerryTachett. Krich. Flauto Dolce.