Great Ziggurat of Ur

Spectacular Ancient City

One of the world’s best reconstructed ancient ziggurat served as the religious and administrative centre of Ur, with a shrine to moon god Nanna, Ur’s patron deity.

The Great Ziggurat of Ur, is a well-preserved Neo-Sumerian ziggurat, and most spectacular remains of the ancient city of Ur. The Great Ziggurat, situated in the temple complex was the administrative heart of Ur. Today, it is located in Dhi Qar Province, in the south of Iraq.

The construction of the Great Ziggurat of Ur, began under the Sumerian King Ur-Nammu, the Third Dynasty of Ur (about the 21 st century B.C.). It was completed by his son, King Shulg who, in order to win the allegiance of cities, proclaimed himself a god. During his 48-year reign, the city of Ur grew to be the capital, controlling much of Mesopotamia.

Like most ziggurats, the massive step pyramid, took the form of a terraced, mud-brick tower with successively receding levels. Its central feature was a series of monumental 100-step staircases, which converged on an upper platform where it housed a shrine to the patron deity, the moon god, Nanna. Today, only the bottom stages of the structure remain, but in its heyday, the Great Ziggurat stood some 100 feet (30 m) high and measured about 210 feet (64 m) in length and 150 feet (46 m) in width.

The site has undergone two major overhauls in its 4,000-year history. The first came in the 6th century B.C., when the Babylonian King Nabonidus repaired its decaying foundation and replaced its upper terraces. In the 1980’s, the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, restored its outer facade and completely rebuilt its three main staircases.

DetailsRecommended Visit:
Restrictions:
Attraction Type: , , , ,

Dhi Qar Province




WatchRelated Shows
PopularShows To Watch

Bucket List

Featured

Popular

Biography

Staff Picks

Lists

MoreRelated Shows
Australian Outback Unique Desert Landscapes
A vast, remote, arid/desert interior region of Australia with remarkable diversity of scenery and red-rock monolith, home to distinct plants, birds and animals species....
Great Blue Hole A marine sinkhole marvel
It is the largest sea hole in the world, this giant, deep blue, circular, underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize, a popular world-class destination for scuba divers....
The Rijksmuseum Netherland's National Treasures
Amsterdam’s grandest museum features the largest collections dedicated to arts and history, as well as Dutch artworks, iconic artifacts, sculptures and ceramics....
Playa del Amor Exotic Hidden Beach
One of the most iconic beaches in the world, is invisible from the outside since its sandy cavern sits inside one of Mexico’s lush and uninhabited Marieta Islands....
ExploreLots Of Shows

Destinations

Events

Hospitality

Accommodation

Attractions

Services

ShowsYou Might Like
The Farm at Cape Kidnappers A World-class Luxury Golf and Spa Lodge
One of the world's extraordinary top luxury destinations, nestled among 6,000 acres of stunning working farmland with breathtaking views over the Pacific....
James Bond A License to Kill
The James Bond film series is one of the longest continually-running film series in history, having been in on-going production from 1962 to the present....
Nayara Resort Spa & Gardens
Against panoramic backdrop of Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, this elegant sanctuary offer incredible accommodation, hospitality, and captivating views....
L’Arpege A La Vegetable Mastery
A three Michelin-star restaurant that is consistently ranked as one of the best in the world, serves exquisite vegetable cuisine for a truly unique fine-dining experience....
ShowstaEnjoy The Show

Home

Continents

Find

Traditions

Join

Latest

Solutions

Help

FAQ

Calendar

Ideas

Samples