The Ziggurat and the pyramids There are many similarities and differences between Ancient Egyptian Pyramids and Mesopotamian ziggurats. They both were held in high regards for their people cultures and religious beliefs. Ziggurats, a product of the Sumerian civilization, are stepped structures of large size that lead to a platform on top where spiritual/religious rituals took place.The pyramid that will be used in this paper is the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Ziggurat used will be the Great Ziggurat of Ur. One similarity is how big they are in their physical properties. One of the main reasons to build these structures so hugely for Egyptians and Mesopotamians alike was to show off growing wealth, prestige, and loyalty to the gods they
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For them the symbolic meaning for building the ziggurats was to create a passage way from earth to heaven
Ziggurats and pyramids greatly differ in their purpose. “Pyramids were thought to be the final resting places of the pharaoh, but more recent archaeological find has uncovered that they were built with narrow shafts extending from the inside to the outer surface for the purpose of lifting the pharaoh’s soul into the heavens” ((Difference). The pyramids were made of sturdier materials such as granite, limestone, and alabaster. Along with that, they were very mathematically precise which made them even stronger. the ziggurats were made from mud-bricks and needed to be raised to prevent them from flooding. This material was more delicate and required more care. This was the reason why the ziggurats were raised and ultimately preserved as long as they did. Yet another way they differ is architecturally. When looking at them straight on, the pyramids look like triangles made of stairs whereas the ziggurats …show more content…
The ziggurats also have shrines on top while the pyramids lack them. Ziggurats, a product of the Sumerian civilization, are stepped structures of large size that lead to a platform on top where spiritual/religious rituals took place. The Great Pyramids can be seen as a more refined version of the ziggurat. Maintaining the larger base and smaller top like a ziggurat, the pyramid offers a more scientific/advanced take on architecture and idealism of form. The construction of such a large scale square pyramid (Khufu’s pyramid is 13 acres at the base) required intense mathematical planning and human labor, with individual bricks weighing 2.5 tons. With the ziggurats, the platform on top served as a place that religious ceremonies could go on out of sight from the lower class civilians. The steps are also isolated and minimal, allowing few access points that needed to be guarded. Both the ziggurats of the Ancient Near East and the pyramids of Egypt are remarkable feats of human civilization. For their respective times, they embodied their civilization’s advances in architecture and science, as well as their attitudes on the importance of
For them the symbolic meaning for building the ziggurats was to create a passage way from earth to heaven
Ziggurats and pyramids greatly differ in their purpose. “Pyramids were thought to be the final resting places of the pharaoh, but more recent archaeological find has uncovered that they were built with narrow shafts extending from the inside to the outer surface for the purpose of lifting the pharaoh’s soul into the heavens” ((Difference). The pyramids were made of sturdier materials such as granite, limestone, and alabaster. Along with that, they were very mathematically precise which made them even stronger. the ziggurats were made from mud-bricks and needed to be raised to prevent them from flooding. This material was more delicate and required more care. This was the reason why the ziggurats were raised and ultimately preserved as long as they did. Yet another way they differ is architecturally. When looking at them straight on, the pyramids look like triangles made of stairs whereas the ziggurats …show more content…
The ziggurats also have shrines on top while the pyramids lack them. Ziggurats, a product of the Sumerian civilization, are stepped structures of large size that lead to a platform on top where spiritual/religious rituals took place. The Great Pyramids can be seen as a more refined version of the ziggurat. Maintaining the larger base and smaller top like a ziggurat, the pyramid offers a more scientific/advanced take on architecture and idealism of form. The construction of such a large scale square pyramid (Khufu’s pyramid is 13 acres at the base) required intense mathematical planning and human labor, with individual bricks weighing 2.5 tons. With the ziggurats, the platform on top served as a place that religious ceremonies could go on out of sight from the lower class civilians. The steps are also isolated and minimal, allowing few access points that needed to be guarded. Both the ziggurats of the Ancient Near East and the pyramids of Egypt are remarkable feats of human civilization. For their respective times, they embodied their civilization’s advances in architecture and science, as well as their attitudes on the importance of