Carroll, William

ARC 2031-02

Project 1 Essay

September 15, 2022

An Analysis and Comparison of Architectural Detail through Pyramids and Ziggurats

The presence of cultic belief among societies of prehistory have influenced a plethora of

built structures. Egypt, a culture established along the Nile, cemented their cult by creating large

pyramids, ornate tombs, and statues that juxtaposed the low-lying environment. A similar

culture, along the Tigris and the Euphrates, instilled a similar approach. The Sumerians built

large Ziggurats that aided in the practice of their respective cult by providing a center for

communal worship and a symbol for a higher presence. Both of these societies created

monumental structures that not only influenced everyday life, but also cemented their values for

future generations. Two structures of the time mentioned above, the Pyramids of Giza and the

Ziggurat of Eanna, both portray architectural detail that exemplifies their culture’s religious

commitment and exclusivity, the societal impact within the construction, and the political

implications by these structures.

Religion plays an important role in creating a unifying fabric towards a set of ideals in

which these structures greatly emblemize. The Ziggurat of Eanna encapsulates these ideals by

being a statement piece over its situational context. The typical Sumerian community consisted

of an “orthographic”, “densely packed neighborhood” (1) that compacted itself along narrow

streets with an occasional courtyard. The Ziggurat proclaims itself as the religious center by
juxtaposing the former environment and making itself a uniform and colossal structure in

contrast to the smaller, and more compact, structures found in the city. “With a base of about 200

by 150 feet” (1), this structure greatly declares itself as the cultural hub and virtually every

nearby structure could see this monument in its sun-dried brick glory. The Pyramids of Giza

creates a similar energy as its largest structure, the pyramid of Khufu, possesses large lime-stone

walls which ascend towards an Apex at 481 ft, presenting the deceased Pharaoh with the first

glimpse of morning sun. The complex spans miles with mortuary chambers, courtyards for

rituals, and hidden storage rooms filled with luxury goods. Although this space overpowers their

respective cultural context, it remains rather a Private space than a public one. The Ziggurat, and

other complexes of Eanna, acts as a public spiritual place, where rituals take place to cement

value and authority onto the people of the Sumerioan culture. The Pyramids of Giza, on the other

hand, acts as a symbol of ritualistic virtue, where it's more of a place of rest and exclusivity

rather than that of public use. In a religious context, both of these sacred spaces were

monumental spaces of architecture, signaling high religious affiliation and dedication, despite the

apparent difference of uses through both cultures.

Through the lens of societal impact, affiliation, and dedication, both of these structures

exemplify an extraordinary amount of communal effort to assemble. Concerning the Ziggurat

found at Eanna, the materials used and the extra steps taken to preserve the building heighten the

importance of the structure to the community. “A protective coat of white wash” was added to

the sun-dried brick, which gave it a “weather-resistant casing” (1). A tall base of rubble was used

to construct the platform to raise the building entirely, which in turn gave the building a “greater

dignity”(1). As mentioned in the paragraph before, the housing situation was fairly compact, and

a large, raised, and extra-protected building at that size greatly suggests that more time and
dedication was used in the construction of the place. A similar theme of dedication is seen with

the construction of the Pyramids of Giza. “Pyramid building was a composite task requiring

many specific tools, techniques, and operations.” (2). Bronze and iron tools were used in the

chiseling and perfecting of stones, while plum-bobs and stakes were used in the surveying and

establishing of the foundation. Sources had to be strategically tracked down to ensure that all

materials could arrive at the site and that “laborers, possibly in their thousands” could be “fed

close to the construction site.” (2). Therefore, a site at this magnitude had to possess, to a certain

extent, a degree of detail and dedication that greatly contrasts the more common projects within

the cities. The construction of the urban house seemed easy in comparison to the major projects

taken at the sites of Giza and of Eanna. These sites, in essence, exemplifies their religious ideals

while also providing sufficient evidence that these structures possessed a great amount of labor

hours to construct.

Through the political lens, these massive projects encompass not only the cultural values

set in place but the strength of those values and the power of the authoritative body. The facade

of the Ziggurat at Eanna perfectly represents this authority by having a segregated entry. “Three

long stairways converge on a tower gate” (1) and lead to separated terraces. Some of these stairs,

and terraces, could only be accessed by the priests which reaffirms the notion that “Political

authority was responsible for both worldly and religious concerns…” (3). This type of political

segregation, as seen with these steps and terraces, exemplify the fusion between authoritative

power and worship. Although certain systems of corvee were in place that allowed for the elite,

as well as the commoners, to contribute to public buildings, architectural details found at Eanna

still placed an affirmative hand towards a powerful authority. Similarly, The Pyramids of Giza

represented this hierarchical structure, however, it did not incorporate any systems of corvee and
instead allowed its architecture to fully exemplify the separation of religious elite and simple

follower. “It was… in society’s interest to ensure that the pharaoh's body and spirit were well

served…” (1). If this wasn’t the case, then the pharaoh's unrisen soul would create havoc on the

community. This authoritative belief led to the construction of large, elaborate tombs, supported

by large slabs of granite, with corbelled entries, and luxurious crypts. Political hierarchy was

even a factor when it came within the royal realm. The three, small, now stepped-like structures

towards the front of the three main pyramids were built for the queens. This spatial hierarchy of

scale leads to the notion that power and authority was represented through not only size of

structure, but also through monumentality and construction. Although these two religious

structures were built as representation towards a collective identity, architectural elements reveal

that these buildings were also representations of a hierarchical system established by their

societies’ authoritative system.

The Ziggurat at Eanna exemplifies a public space, used by the culture to worship cultic

ideals and to establish a uniform identity. The Pyramids of Giza is a structure for a more private

sphere, but still provides a cementing of cultic beliefs towards their culture. Through their

architectural detail, both of these buildings present similarities and differences among their

religious commitment and exclusivity, their societal impact of mass construction, and their

political implications. These structures also address that their monumentality not only highlights

cultural precedent but allows for these cultures to unify and evolve architectural precedent to

form their cultural identity.

 Works Cited

(1) Fazio, Michael. Buildings across Time: An Introduction to World Architecture.

McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US), 2018. [MBS Direct].

(2) Lehner, Mark. Zahi Hawass. Giza and the Pyramids: The Definitive History. University

of Chicago Press (Chicago, US), 2017.

(3) Heinz, Marlien. Chapter Nine, Public Buildings, Palaces, and Temples. Routledge (US),

2013.