The Ziggurat of Babylon, called “the House of Fondation, of Sky and Earth” (the Etemenanki), was more than 90m high, had seven levels, and on its top a small temple where permanently remained Marduk, the god of the City. These Mesopotamian towers, among which this one is the highest, might have been a figuration of the mountain toward the sacred. It completely irradiated the site of Babylon, as it could be seen from all sides.













The Ziggurat was built in the sacred area. This great rectangle closed by huge walls, was surrounded by buildings and gates, among which the most famous was the holy gate, opening to the Processional Way. This gate was opened only on special occasions, among which the solemn procession of Marduk. In the centre of the picture, are the the gates of the southern city wall, that lead to the priests’ living houses. The southern Processional Way leads towards the bridge over the Euphrates.










Farther perspective of the Ziggurat and the sacred area. One notices the huge defensive structures made by the city walls of Babylon. The holy gate was situated between the two closed courtyards at the top of the picture, on the right side. From the captivity of the Hebrews at the time of Nabuchodonosor, remains the legend associating the great Ziggurat with the Tower of Babel in the Genesis.