The Great Ziggurat in Ur (Etemenniguru ziggurat) is the best-preserved temple complex of the Ancient Mesopotamia. Built in the XXI century BC. e. (about 2047 BC) in the city of Ur by the local kings Ur-Nammu and Shulgi, as well as the Ekishnugal sanctuary, in honor of the lunar deity Nann. Subsequently, it was rebuilt more than once, it was significantly expanded by the New Babylonian king Nabonidus.
The construction of the ziggurat was led by the third dynasty of Ur, which restored the local statehood after the invasions of the Akkadians and Kutii. The ziggurat was called to serve not only as a temple, but also as a public institution, an archive and a royal palace. From its top, the whole city could be contemplated in full view.
The ziggurat was a 20-meter brick building, which was located on platforms of various widths, with a base of 210 meters, with three floors. The foundation was made of mud bricks, the outer walls were lined with stone slabs.
The entire surface of the building was faced with bricks, which were previously treated with bitumen.
Perhaps this is how the ziggurat looked like in ancient times. Three ascents like ladders (a steep central one and two side ones connected at the top) led to the first platform, from where the steps led to a brick superstructure, where the main sanctuary-temple of the moon god Nannar was located. The upper platform was also used by the priests to observe the stars. Within the walls supporting the platforms were many rooms where the priests and temple workers lived.
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This superstructure has not survived. The first explorer of the structure, Leonard Woolley, believed that these stairs were planted with trees in ancient times, so that the entire structure would resemble a sacred mountain to the inhabitants of the alluvial plain.
Perhaps this is how the ziggurat looked like in ancient times.
The ziggurat in Ur served as a revered model for the architects of the Ancient Mesopotamia. It is possible that either the Etemenniguru ziggurat itself, or the ziggurat in Babylon built on its model, served as a prototype for the Tower of Babel described in the Bible.
State of the art
Current state: In the 20th century, Leonard Woolley's expedition from the British Museum cleared the ziggurat of centuries-old layers, after which it was partially reconstructed. In the courtyard of the ziggurat, Woolley discovered the remains of the temple archive - clay tablets with information about trade deals in which the priests acted as representatives of the lunar deity.
At the turn of the 21st century, the monument underwent new tests. Saddam Hussein ordered to recreate the facades of the building and the monumental staircase, thereby distorting its appearance. Currently, the American Ali airbase lies 2 km south-west of the ziggurat. Near the ziggurat are the ruins of the temple of Nebuchadnezzar II. The city closest to the monument is Nasiriya.