Final answer:
A ziggurat is an ancient Mesopotamian structure resembling a stepped pyramid, built using layers of mud-brick, often with a shrine or temple at the summit. These structures were primarily for use by priests and were significant both religiously and politically within their communities. Iconic examples include the White Temple atop the Anu Ziggurat in Uruk and the Ziggurat of Ur.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ziggurat is an ancient Mesopotamian structure that served as a religious and symbolic edifice. Constructed with layers of mud-brick and often faced with burnt brick, their
pyramid shape culminated in a summit shrine or temple. The ziggurat was not a place for public worship; it was exclusively used by priests for making offerings to the gods and taking care of the cult statues situated in the temple atop the structure. These imposing terraced towers were part of a larger religious complex and featured ramps for access. These historical monuments date back to the Sumerian culture in the fourth millennium BCE and continued to be built into the late third and early second millennium BCE.
One prominent example is the White Temple atop the Anu Ziggurat in Uruk, which would have dominated the city's skyline. Ziggurats were built using mud-bricks as stone was scarce in the Near East. Over time, advancements were made such as the use of colored enameled tiles for decoration on Assyrian ziggurats and building techniques that created octagonal and circular domes. Examples like the Ziggurat of Ur, dedicated to the moon god Nanna, and the Etemenanki, dedicated to Marduk, illustrate the architectural significance and cultural importance of these structures in their respective cities.