The monumental, stepped architectural structure built by Mesopotamian people and known in the cities of Uruk, Ur, Nippur and Eridu is called a Answer Question 4. (one word answer; be careful with your spelling)

A gleaming temple built atop a mud-brick platform, it towered abovethe yat plain of Uruk.Visible from a great distanceUruk (modern Warka in Iraq)—where city life began more than xvethousand years ago and where the xrst writing emerged—was clearlyone of the most important places in southern Mesopotamia. WithinUruk, the greatest monument was the Anu Ziggurat on which theWhite Temple was built. Dating to the late 4th millennium B.C.E. (theLate Uruk Period, or Uruk III) and dedicated to the sky god Anu, thistemple would have towered well above (approximately 40 feet) the yatplain of Uruk, and been visible from a great distance—even over thedefensive walls of the city.ZigguratsA ziggurat is a built raised platform with four sloping sides—like achopped-ow pyramid. Ziggurats are made of mud-bricks—the buildingmaterial of choice in the Near East, as stone is rare. Ziggurats werenot only a visual focal point of the city, they were a symbolic one,as well—they were at the heart of the theocratic political system (atheocracy is a type of government where a god is recognized as theruler, and the state ozcials operate on the god’s behalf). So, seeingthe ziggurat towering above the city, one made a visual connectionto the god or goddess honored there, but also recognizedthat deity’s political authority.Excavators of the White Temple estimate that it would have taken1500 laborers working on average ten hours per day for about xveyears to build the last major revetment (stone facing) of its massiveunderlying terrace (the open areas surrounding the White Temple atthe top of the ziggurat). Although religious belief may have inspiredparticipation in such a project, no doubt some sort of force(corvée labor—unpaid labor coerced by the state/slavery) was involvedas well.ue sides of the ziggurat were very broad and sloping but brokenup by recessed stripes or bands from top to bosom (see digitalreconstruction, above), which would have made a stunning pasernin morning or arernoon sunlight. ue only way up to the top of theziggurat was via a steep stairway that led to a ramp that wrappedaround the north end of the Ziggurat and brought one to the templeentrance. ue yat top of the ziggurat was coated with bitumen(asphalt—a tar or pitch-like material similar to what is used forroad paving) and overlaid with brick, for a xrm and waterprooffoundation for the White temple. ue temple gets its name for the factthat it was entirely white washed inside and out, which would havegiven it a dazzling brightness in strong sunlight.Archaeological site at Uruk (modern Warka) in Iraq (photo: SAC Andy Holmes(RAF)/MOD, Open Government Licence v1.0) <heps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uruk_Archaealogical_site_at_Warka,_Iraq_MOD_45156521.jpg>35Digital reconstruction of the two-story version of the White Temple, Uruk (modernWarka), c, 3517-3358 B.C.E. © artefacts-berlin.de; scientijc material: GermanArchaeological InstituteThe White Templeue White temple was rectangular, measuring 17.5 x 22.3 metersand, at its corners, oriented to the cardinal points. It is a typicalUruk “high temple (Hochtempel)” type with a tri-partite plan: a longrectangular central hall with rooms on either side (plan). ue WhiteTemple had three entrances, none of which faced the ziggurat rampdirectly. Visitors would have needed to walk around the temple,appreciating its bright façade and the powerful view, and likely gainedaccess to the interior in a “bent axis” approach (where one would haveto turn 90 degrees to face the altar), a typical arrangement for AncientNear Eastern temples.Interior view of the two-story version of the “White Temple,” Digital reconstructionof the White Temple, Uruk (modern Warka), c, 3517-3358 B.C.E. © artefacts-berlin.de; scientijc material: German Archaeological Instituteue north west and east corner chambers of the building containedstaircases (unxnished in the case of the one at the north end).Chambers in the middle of the northeast room suite appear to havebeen equipped with wooden shelves in the walls and displayedcavities for sesing in pivot stones which might imply a solid door wasxsed in these spaces. ue north end of the central hall had a podiumaccessible by means of a small staircase and an altar with a xre-stained surface. Very few objects were found inside the White Temple,although what has been found is very interesting. Archaeologistsuncovered some 19 tablets of gypsum on the yoor of the temple—all ofwhich had cylinder seal impressions and reyected temple accounting.Also, archaeologists uncovered a foundation deposit of the bones ofa leopard and a lion in the eastern corner of the Temple (foundationdeposits, ritually buried objects and bones, are not uncommon inancient architecture).Remains of the Anu Ziggurat, Uruk (modern Warka), c. 3517-3358 B.C.E. (photo:Geoi Emberling, by permission) <heps://www.kickr.com/photos/emberling/8609236153/in/photostream/>To the north of the White Temple there was a broad yat terrace, at thecenter of which archaeologists found a huge pit with traces of xre (2.2x 2.7m) and a loop cut from a massive boulder. Most interestingly, asystem of shallow bitumen-coated conduits were discovered. ueseran from the southeast and southwest of the terrace edges and enteredthe temple through the southeast and southwest doors.Archaeologists conjecture that liquids would have yowed from theterrace to collect in a pit in the center hall of the temple

At the site of Eridu in early Mesopotamia, we see evidence of increasingly larger temples built over top of earlier temples.  This may suggest that _____________.You Answered  the same space was utilized due to a culture that emphasized conformity Correct Answer  the ritual space was at least as important as the buildings   the culture participated in ancestor worship cults and maintained a space familiar to these ancestors   none of these   temple construction was very costly and repurposed existing materials

Mesopotamia is known asSelect one:the land of the kingshighlight_offthe birthplace of civilizationhighlight_offthe sacred river crossinghighlight_offthe hearth of monotheistic religionshighlight_off

The monumental architecture of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians was predated by that of which ancient culture?CarthageÇatal HüyükGöbleki TepeJericho

The Sumerians began to build the first cities in the world during the civilization of Mesopotamia.Question 8Answera.Falseb.True