Ziggurats

Ziggurats were large buildings in Mesopotamia used for government business and religion.   They were built in the center or middle of each city.  Life in each city (or city-state) focused around the ziggurat.  The ziggurat was the most important building in town.

Mud and sand bricks were used to build the ziggurat and each one could weigh 30 pounds.  The bricks were tan or brown and millions of bricks were needed to build one ziggurat.  It was long and hard work.  Since it was built from mud and sand bricks, they had to be make sure each brick would last.  For the outside walls, they cooked the bricks over a low fire to make them stronger.  For inside walls, they just dried them in the hot, desert sun.  Small holes were drilled in the walls of the ziggurat to let flood water evaporate from the inside.  They are often called "weep" holes.  They also made drains on each flat roof to keep rain water from building up.   

All ziggurats were very tall, usually three levels, and looked like a step pyramid.  They ziggurat had steps climbing to the top from three sides.  The three staircases came together at a large gate at the front.  Large supports were built next to the stairs.  These were called a buttress and are still used by architects today.  There was one set of stairs that went to the temple at the very top.  Archaeologists found blue bricks they think was used to decorate the top temple and make it stand out from the other levels.  The temple was a special place for priests and prayer. 

The ziggurat was mainly used for government business.  Offices and storage rooms were inside.  A lot of space was needed to store taxes and offerings.  Whatever a person specialized in they had to give some of it to the king for an offering or for a tax.   Clay tablets or important written records were stored inside the large ziggurat.  The king might hold a trial here for someone accused of a crime.  School and important meetings were also all held in the ziggurat.  Outside the ziggurat people gathered to trade goods with each other.  Festivals or parties were near the ziggurat to honor the gods and for Mesopotamians to have some fun.  

Priests were in charge of the ziggurats.  People in Mesopotamia believed in many gods which is called polytheism.  People left offerings on the steps of the ziggurat to please the gods.  The priests kept a list of these for the king.  Offerings might be food, grain, jewelry, tools, pottery, paintings, clothing... anything a person could make.  The offerings were then used to trade with others and help make the city-state rich.