Ziggurat of Ur, Ancient stepped temple structure in Ur, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq.
This massive mud brick and baked brick structure rises from the desert with three surviving terraces, featuring broad staircases and buttresses that once led to a temple platform dedicated to the moon god Nanna.
Constructed around 2100 BCE during the reign of King Ur-Nammu of the Third Dynasty of Ur, this monumental building served as a religious center for nearly two millennia before undergoing major Neo-Babylonian restoration in the 6th century BCE.
The ziggurat functioned as the spiritual heart of ancient Ur, where priests conducted ceremonies honoring the moon god Nanna, and citizens gathered to make agricultural offerings while seeking divine guidance for their community.
Located near modern Al-Nasiriyah, the site remains accessible to researchers and visitors, though conservation efforts continue to address damage sustained during regional conflicts and environmental challenges affecting the ancient brickwork.
The structure incorporates sophisticated drainage systems with weeper holes in the exterior bricks that allow moisture to evaporate, preventing internal damage and demonstrating advanced Mesopotamian engineering techniques from over 4,000 years ago.
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