What term describes the tiered temple-tower common in Mesopotamian cities?

• A. Ziggurat
• B. Obelisk
• C. Pylon
• D. Mastaba

Answer: (A)

Ziggurat describes the tiered temple-tower that rises at the center of Mesopotamian cities. These stepped platforms were built to elevate the sacred shrine toward the heavens, signaling a closer link between the divine and the earthly world. They were typically constructed from mud brick and faced with baked brick, with stairs or ramps leading up to a shrine at the summit where rituals for the city’s god would take place. This form is distinct from other ancient structures: an obelisk is a tall, solitary stone shaft associated with Egyptian monuments; a mastaba is a flat-topped tomb from Egypt; a pylon is a large gateway in Egyptian temple complexes. The ziggurat’s purpose and construction-specific features make it the correct term for Mesopotamian temple-towers.