Final answer:
The claim that ziggurats were built of stone and mortar is false. Mesopotamian ziggurats, including the Ziggurat of Ur and the White Temple Ziggurat, were primarily constructed from sun-baked mud bricks, which were less durable and required more frequent reconstruction. The correct answer is option b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that ziggurats were built of stone and mortar to protect them from the forces of nature is false. Ancient Mesopotamian architecture, including ziggurats, mostly utilized sun-baked bricks rather than stone and mortar. These structures required frequent reconstruction due to the less durable materials chosen, notably in the case of the Ziggurat of Ur and the White Temple Ziggurat in Uruk.
Ziggurats were terraced step pyramids with receding stories and a temple or shrine at the summit. They were primarily built for religious and administrative functions, not for public worship, and were constructed using mud bricks. The exterior facings of the bricks were sometimes glazed and engraved with symbols and names of kings, and they formed the solid core of these massive structures.
The use of sun-baked bricks meant that these structures were less resistant to the elements and needed regular maintenance or rebuilding. The design, while monumental, relied on a less stable construction material compared to stone structures, which could better withstand environmental forces over time.