Sumerian Ziggurats (Assyrian word “zigguratu”= height)

General Appearance This was the largest and most important building located in the center of each Sumerian city. Sumerians believed it was the home of the city’s patron god. It was built on a platform called a parraku, designed to dominate the horizon and also to provide protection from floods. Most temples were built on the remnants of older temples that were destroyed or expanded with the city’s population or wealth.

Each king would add on to the temple with numerous stairways leading to different levels. *The Ziggurat of Ur was on a platform 200’ long, 150’ wide, and rose 70 feet above the plain.

Building Materials In early Sumer it was made of rectangular mud bricks because they didn’t have stone or timber. It was decorated with clay cones which were dipped into red, black or buff paint and then inserted into the plaster to form zigzags or geometric designs. Weep holes were square or rectangular shaped holes placed at different levels in the temple to provide drainage.

Weep Holes Stairs to levels Mud Bricks

The Use of the Temple The main purpose of the ziggurat was to have a place of respect and worship for the gods. Sumerians believed blind obedience and constant gifts and sacrifices would give them protection and success on earth. Inside every ziggurat was a rectangular central shrine called a cella, for the god’s emblem or statue. In front of the statue was an altar, a mud brick table for offerings to the god.

Cella Statue of god

In the highest story, visited only by the most important priests, these were done The god was served regular meals of fish, mutton, honey, beer and cake. The god communicated his wishes to the priests. The god received sacrifices. The temple supplied employment. administration (priests) maintenance (musicians, singers, hierodules “temple slaves”)

It served as a center for commercial activity Food storage and distribution Marketplace, trading of goods Celebrations Draw an example of a Sumerian Ziggurat below.