Structures > Ziggurat of Ur

Ziggurat of Ur

Background

The Ziggurat of Ur is a massive pyramid structure that is located at the ancient Sumerian city of Ur. It was built around 4,200 years ago by the Sumerian king Ur-Nammu during the earliest dates of the Bronze Age around 2,200 - 2,100 BC. It remains standing to this day and was restored at one point by the last king of Neo-Babylonia named Nabonidus.

Ziggurat of Ur

The Great Ziggurat of Ur was lost for centuries until the 1920's and 1930's when it was excavated by Sir Leonard Woolley. In the 1980's Saddam Hussein attempted a reconstruction of the massive staircase.

Overall the Ziggurat of Ur is one of the best preserved Sumerian structures along with the Elamite site known as Chogha Zanbil. To this day it remains one of the best preserved sites alongside the Palace of Ur-Nammu and the Royal Mausolea.

Construction

Stela or Ur-Nammu