Great Ziggurat of Ur

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Ur seen across the Royal tombs, with the Great Ziggurat in the background, January 17, 2004

The Ziggurat was dedicated to the moon Nanna (or Suen. The name Nanna is Sumerian for "illuminator."), in the Sumerian city of Ur in ancient Mesopotamia. The latitude of the ziggurat equals the acute angle of a triangle with 3:5 sides, implying geodetic knowledge. The construct, a huge stepped platform, was built approximately in the 21st century BC by king Ur-Namma. In Sumerian times it was called Etemennigur. Today, after more than 4000 years, the ziggurat is still well preserved in large parts, and partially reconstructed, as the only major remainder of Ur in present-day southern Iraq.

The ziggurat was a piece in a temple complex, which was thought to be the dwelling of the moon god, the patron deity of Ur, on earth. The construction of the ziggurat was finished in the 21st century BC by King Shulgi, who in order to win the allegiance of cities, proclaimed himself god. During his 48-year reign, the city of Ur grew to be the capital of a state controlling much of Mesopotamia. Later though, the fortunes of Ur declined, and it was sacked by the Elamites.^[1]