What is a ziggurat?
A ziggurat is a massive, stepped structure from ancient Mesopotamia, built up of terraces that become smaller towards the top. A small temple probably stood on the highest terrace. Ziggurats were built by the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians and Elamites, among others, in what is now Iraq, Iran and Syria.
Construction
- Mud-brick core: the solid core usually consisted of sun-dried mud bricks.
- Fired-brick casing: the outside was faced with fired bricks, often laid in bitumen. This hard shell protected the core from rain and erosion.
- Stepped profile: each terrace is set back from the one below. Long stairways or ramps led to the top.
- Articulated walls: the sloping walls were broken up with recesses and buttress-like projections, creating a play of light and shadow.
Unlike an Egyptian pyramid, a ziggurat had no internal burial chambers. It was not a tomb but a religious monument at the heart of the city.
Famous examples
- Ziggurat of Ur (Iraq): built around 2100 BC and partly reconstructed. It is one of the best-preserved examples.
- Chogha Zanbil (Iran): built around 1250 BC and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Etemenanki in Babylon: the great ziggurat often linked with the story of the Tower of Babel. Almost nothing of it survives.
Application
The ziggurat form has inspired later architects. Stepped, set-back building masses appear in Art Deco skyscrapers and terraced buildings. When people describe a building as “ziggurat-shaped”, they usually mean this kind of profile with floors that shrink towards the top.
Related terms
- Mastaba
- Terp
- Pyramid roof
- Risalit
- Facing brick
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.