Notes from Kleiner: Mesopotamia – Greek for “the land between the

Tigris and Euphrates rivers” – often called the “Fertile Crescent”. Present
day Iraq, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan and
Cyprus (3500-330 BCE). Ziggurat’s, such as the White Temple at Uruk,
were the main temple to the state’s chief god and was built on a temple
complex in the center of the city. Priests and scribes worked on business
and religious functions.
Ziggurat – a pyramid-like building made of several stories that indent as
the building gets taller; thus, they have terraces at each level.

Contextual Notes on the Near East:

A way to remember order of Mesopotamian cultures: Santa Anna Never Baked a Nutty
Pancake (Sumerians, Akkadians, Neo-Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Neo-Babylonians,
Persians)
“The Origin of many features of civilization such as writing, urbanism, science, and
metalworking to name a few lies in the lands of the ancient Near East.” Excerpt from Marsha’s
resources.

Essential Knowledge 2-2b. Architectural representations include towering ziggurats that

provide monumental settings for the worship of many deities, and heavily fortified palaces
proclaiming the power and authority of rulers.

WHITE TEMPLE AND ITS ZIGGURAT

Identification: White Temple and its
ziggurat. Uruk (modern Warka, Iraq).
Sumerian. c. 3500-3000 BCE. Mud brick
Period/Style: Ancient Mediterranean – early
Sumerian
Form: bent axis approach; 40 ft. platform above eye level
Content: temple of mudbrick, stepped ramp built high on the plain; contains outdoor
terraces and indoor temple both for ritual purposes
Context: located in the center of the city of Uruk. A grand setting for worship of their main
deity, Anu (sky god); only high priests and elite community members were allowed access.
Contained a cella (central hall) for gods. Sumerians called their temples “waiting rooms” –
waiting for the deity.
Function: a temple for ritual purposes; the center of the city and meeting place for the gods
and select priests and administrators of Uruk
Theme: knowledge and belief; sacred spaces; religion-ritual/ceremony
Description/Notes: this was the center of the city. It was a grand setting for the worship of
their main deity. The temple stands atop a 40-foot platform above street level. One stairway
led to the top, but not to any doorway. They used a bent-axis plan, forcing the viewer to
change angles 2-3 times. 4 corners of the temple are set to the 4 cardinal points of the
compass. Not sure of a roof. Do we not see this with Moses ascending Mount Sinai to receive
the 10 Commandments? Or the Greeks placing the home of their gods on Mount Olympus?
Innovation/Convention: ziggurat; bent-axis plan
Connections-religious centers on hilltops: Yaxchilan structure; Templo Mayer, Tenochtitlan,
Acropolis