ziggurat
A ziggurat is a type of massive structure built in ancient Mesopotamia, characterized by its stepped design. These structures were made of mud bricks and served as temples dedicated to the gods. Ziggurats often had a flat top where priests would perform rituals, and they were usually part of a larger complex that included other buildings and courtyards.
The most famous ziggurat is the Great Ziggurat of Ur, located in present-day Iraq. Ziggurats were prominent from around 2100 BCE to 500 BCE and played a significant role in the religious and cultural life of the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians.