Final answer:
A ziggurat is an ancient Mesopotamian stepped tower serving as a temple, built from sun-dried bricks with a shrine at the top, reflecting both religious significance and political symbolism.
Step-by-step explanation:
A ziggurat is a stepped temple structure that was commonplace in ancient Mesopotamian civilizations like Sumer and Babylonia. The structure typically featured a series of terraced levels that receded as they ascended, culminating in a shrine or temple at the top. Made from sun-dried bricks, ziggurats were significant not just architecturally but also in terms of their religious and political symbolism.
The Ziggurat at Ur, for instance, stood around 30 meters tall and served as an administrative center and a shrine to the moon god Nanna. It showcased a flat top with multiple terraces and was often decorated with glazed and engraved bricks. Ziggurats like the one at Ur elevated the temple and priests towards their gods, symbolizing the divine's presence in earthly affairs.