Ziggurat of Ur

ancient mesopotamia · architecture · archaeology

Ancient temple tower. The Ziggurat of Ur is one of the best preserved ziggurats from ancient Mesopotamia, built around 2100 BC by King Ur-Nammu. A ziggurat is a massive stepped temple that looks like a giant staircase made of stone and mud brick.

Located in Iraq. The ziggurat sits near the ancient city of Ur, which was one of the most important cities in Mesopotamia. Today it stands in Dhi Qar Province in modern-day Iraq.

Built by a king. King Ur-Nammu of the Third Dynasty of Ur ordered the construction of this incredible structure thousands of years ago. It was a place where ancient people gathered to worship their gods.

Restored after ruin. By the 6th century BC, the ziggurat had crumbled into ruins. King Nabonidus later restored it so people could see this amazing building stand tall again.

Impressive engineering. The ziggurat's design shows how skilled ancient builders were, stacking multiple levels high into the sky without modern equipment. Staircases connected each level, allowing priests to climb to the top.