ziggurat

noun

zig·gu·rat ˈzi-gə-ˌrat

: an ancient Mesopotamian temple tower consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top

also : a structure or object of similar form

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François Lenormant and Ziggurat

French professor of archaeology Francois Lenormant spent a great deal of time poring over ancient Assyrian texts. In those cuneiform inscriptions, he recognized a new language, now known as Akkadian, which proved valuable to the understanding of the ancient civilization. Through his studies, he became familiar with the Akkadian word for the towering temples: ziqqurratu, which was translated into English as ziggurat.

Examples of ziggurat in a Sentence

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Among the most significant features of the archaeological site is the Ninurta Temple—with its ziggurat (stepped tower)—dedicated to the eponymous Assyrian god of war and agriculture. —

Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024 Peering down gave me the disorienting sensation of being at the apex of some hollowed ziggurat — part 800 B.C., part 1989. —

Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2024 Indigenous people in the Americas, including the Maya and Aztec civilizations, built structures resembling ziggurats, the encyclopedia said. —

Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 19 July 2024 The picture was our official group portrait: roughly 50 young teenagers of varying heights, some piled around a wooden tower, a sort of mini-Midwestern ziggurat. —

Jill Gurvey, Twin Cities, 2 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for ziggurat