Browse stories

History glossary

Ziggurat

a large stepped temple tower built in Mesopotamian cities.

Category
Architecture
Region
Mesopotamia

What it means

A ziggurat was a monumental stepped platform or tower associated with a city's main god. It was not a pyramid tomb; it was part of a temple complex and made religious authority visible at the center of Mesopotamian urban life.

Related terms

Stories using this term

A weekly route through history

Find out first about the latest published stories, feature notes and occasional Premium offers in one weekly email.