Ziggurats
Ziggurats are a type of stepped pyramid temple complex used by cultures of ancient Mesopotamia. These temples were thought to house a god, and only priests were allowed to enter these formidable structures. Fictional ziggurats are often featured in the deserts of sword & sandal fantasy worlds where they may be home to fictional gods, be used for fictional religions, or house cults. Ziggurat-like structures are also often found in science fiction and cyberpunk settings as arcologies or desert planet temples.
| Synonyms: desert temples |
| Example Mythonyms: the Daybreak Ziggurat, the Ziggurat of the Sleeping God |
| Places |
Designing Fictional Ziggurats
Archetypes
Overview
Fictional ziggurats play a number of roles. They often serve as ancient temples, fraught with peril and traps, where danger and treasure lurk behind each long unopened door. In worlds set in ancient eras, however, ziggurats may be teeming with activity, acting as mysterious religious centers in the middle of expansive deserts. Worlds of future eras have also adopted the iconic structure of the stepped pyramid, and they may be utilized as arcologies or alien ruins.
Worldbuilders designing fictional ziggurats may wish to create fictional religions or fictional gods that pair with them. A religious faction may also be present.
Layout
The overall structure of a ziggurat is that of a stepped pyramid (see Historical Context for additional detail). This allows designers to consider three-dimensions when creating ziggurats for their fictional settings. The highest and lowest chambers are often points of interest, and fictional ziggurats may borrow elements from the later-era Egyptian pyramids and include burial chambers, treasure chambers, and hidden passageways. As ziggurats served as temples, religious elements may also be included in fictional versions.
Ancient Traps
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Historical Context
Built primarily between the 22nd and 5th centuries BCE, ziggurats served as religious centers, acting as temples and shrines to the Mesopotamian pantheon. Ziggurats were sacred places, and only members of the religious priesthood were allowed inside them, as these locations were though to be the physical homes to a pantheon of local gods.
Structure
Constructed with a core of mudbrick and a facing of baked mudbrick or stone for greater durability, ziggurats rose in a series of receding stories. Their size varied, with some ziggurats reaching a modest 40 meters (130 ft) on a side, while others were massive edifices exceeding 170 meters (560 ft) across. The base was typically square or rectangular. Ramps or staircases provided access to the upper levels, the number of which varied between ziggurats. The uppermost level, often the smallest, frequently housed a temple or shrine dedicated to a specific deity. Decorative elements like colored tiles, glazed bricks, or statues might adorn the exterior of some ziggurats.
Function
Ziggurats served as a symbolic link between the earthly realm and the heavens, facilitating communication with the gods. They housed the cults and statues of deities, acting as centers for religious rituals and offerings. Due to their elevated vantage point, they may have been used for astronomical observations. In some instances, ziggurats possibly functioned as administrative centers and storage facilities.