keatonscc

Draft 3

9/24/09

Sumerian Ziggurats

By Keaton

The oldest civilization is Sumer, which flourished between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Sumerians were famous for the colossal temples they carefully constructed. These temples were called ziggurats. They do not have smooth sides like the Egyptian pyramids, instead, their sides ascended like stairs. The most magnificent ziggurat was in Ur. It had seven layers. As it descended each was larger than the one under it. It towered 160 feet high! At the top, a golden couch and table were placed just in case the moon god came to visit. Each ziggurat was dedicated to one of the many gods.