Etemenanki, Ancient ziggurat ruins in Babylon, Iraq
Etemenanki is an ancient ziggurat ruin in central Babylon, Iraq, once composed of seven ascending platforms made from mud bricks. The foundations today mark the site of this terraced tower structure that was adorned with glazed tiles.
The tower was erected around 600 BCE during the Neo-Babylonian Empire and served as a central sanctuary. Alexander the Great later ordered its dismantling to reuse materials for theater construction.
The name comes from Sumerian and means Temple of the Foundation of Heaven and Earth, referring to a concept where worshipers ascended through different levels to approach Marduk. Each platform represented a stage in that journey toward the shrine where priests performed rituals above the city.
Access to the archaeological zone requires a guided tour arranged through Babylon heritage management, as the area is protected. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear since the remains lie on uneven ground.
The summit served as both an astronomical observation point and a shrine to Marduk, patron deity of Babylon. Priests observed planetary movements from there and correlated them with religious calendars.
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