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.
Stairs to levels

Weep Holes

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.