One of the best preserved ziggurats is the
Ziggurat of Ur, located in present-day Iraq
Click for a tour!
Ziggurat of Ur, located in present-day Iraq
Click for a tour!
Archaeologists discovered the oldest Mesopotamian structure in an ancient city known as Eridu. Made of mud-brick platforms, it served as a temple to honor the Gods. In 2600 BC, King Sargon I of Ur built the very first Ziggurat - a structure significantly taller than ones from before. People believed that the higher the monument stood, the closer to the Gods they could get. Ziggurats were not only places of worship, but also administrative centers, where trade and governance took place.
Take a look at the pictures below.
Can you see any similarities and/or differences between
Mesopotamian ziggurats and the architecture of other civilizations, including ours?