jan 1, 3517 BC - White Temple and it's ziggurat

Description:

Stone (temple) mud brick (ziggurat)
Uruk (modern Iraq)

During this time in Mesopotamia, Uruk was one of the largest cities drawing in many from miles around. It was where writing emerged. In the center of the city, temples were built to honor their gods. The temple would be constructed on top of a ziggurat.

The White temple was most likely dedicated to the sun god Anu. It’s design made it visible for miles. The building was white washed, its corners were aligned with the cardinal points, and none of the entrances to the temple aligned with the ramp that brought visitors to the level of the temple. Most likely the temple was built using some sort of slave labor.

The interior of the temple was designed with a tripartite plan, three entrances in which one would enter on a bent axis to view the altar. There is evidence of stairs, doors, chambers, and shelving. Gypsum tablets were found with accounting information. Bones of lions and leopards were also found. Evidence of a huge pit was found on the the terrace along with a system of shallow conduits that ran from the SE and SW of the terrace and entered the temple through the SE and SW doors.

Added to timeline:

Date:

Images: