Ziggurats are associated with which ancient civilizations?

Ziggurats are associated with which ancient civilizations?

• A. Egyptians and Greeks
• B. Assyrians and Babylonians
• C. Mayans
• D. Romans

Answer: (B)

Ziggurats are a Mesopotamian architectural feature—stepped temple towers built to raise sacred spaces toward the heavens. They belong to the Assyrians and Babylonians, who inhabited Mesopotamia in an area that includes much of ancient Iraq. A famous example is the Ziggurat of Ur, with many city-states in Sumer, Akkad, and Neo-Babylonian times building similar structures for religious purposes. This style contrasts with Egyptian pyramids, which served tomb purposes, and with Mayan pyramids in the Americas, which come from a very different cultural tradition. Romans built different kinds of monumental architecture as well. So, the civilizations most closely associated with ziggurats are the Assyrians and Babylonians.

Ziggurats are a Mesopotamian architectural feature—stepped temple towers built to raise sacred spaces toward the heavens. They belong to the Assyrians and Babylonians, who inhabited Mesopotamia in an area that includes much of ancient Iraq. A famous example is the Ziggurat of Ur, with many city-states in Sumer, Akkad, and Neo-Babylonian times building similar structures for religious purposes. This style contrasts with Egyptian pyramids, which served tomb purposes, and with Mayan pyramids in the Americas, which come from a very different cultural tradition. Romans built different kinds of monumental architecture as well. So, the civilizations most closely associated with ziggurats are the Assyrians and Babylonians.