These however were some3000 years after the early Mesopotamian ziggurats.What part did Ziggurats play in Religion?Ziggurats were built to reach nearer the heavens. The Aztecs and other people inhabiting the areabuilt huge 'stepped' structures for worshipping their gods. These were with three 'steps' but later Ziggurats hadas many as seven 'steps'.Similar structures to ziggurats have been discovered at the other side of theworld, in Central America. Around the base there mightbe more temples or in some case accommodation for priests.Some of the earliest proper ziggurats were built by Ur-Nammu (2112-2095), alate Sumerian king of Ur. The ziggurats were built on an immense scale: in the time of Hammurapithey would sometimes reach the height of 150 feet.
The top of the ziggurat was reached by a broad stairwaygoing up the side. st step 300ft by 300ft 110ft high2nd step 260ft by 260ft 60ft high3rd step 200ft by 200ft 20ft high4th step 170ft by 170ft 20ft high5th step 140ft by 140ft 20ft high6th step? 20ft high?7th step 70ft by 80ft 50ft highDimensions of the Babylonian ZigguratThe scribe omitted the dimensions of the sixth step but its height wasprobably twenty feet.This means that the temple situated on the very top of the ziggurat was threehundred feet high.The main structure of the ziggurat was trodden clay but there was a layer ofbricks on the outside. It was builtwith similar characteristics as the Tower ofBabel mention in the Bible (see Gen 10).Etemenanki(House of the platform of Heaven and Earth)Thanks to a tablet that has been found we are in the possession of most of thedimensions of the ziggurat. We have a Babylonian tabletthat gives us the dimensions of the ziggurat at the time of Nebuchadnezzar II.The ziggurat’s condition declined and it was in ruins when Alexander arrived in 331 BC.The restored remains of the great zigguratof ancient Ur, in southern Iraq. There are other sourcesoutside of the Bible that reveal what a Ziggurat is. This would have no doubt reminded them of the events at the Tower ofBabel.The Bible reveals very little about the ziggurat.
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