12. White Temple and ziggurat, Uruk (modern Warka), Iraq, ca. 3200–3000 BCE.

Form

-Brick building on a colossal scale -Whitewashed used to disguise the mud -Tapers down so that rainwater washes off -Temple on top was small, setback, and removed from the front -Access reserved for loyalty and clergy -Only the base of the temple remains: the temple interior contains a cella and smaller rooms.

Content

--Large settlement of 40,000->based on agriculture and specialized labor -Deity was Anu->god of the sky -Four corners oriented to the compass -Terrace for outdoor rituals and a temple for indoor rituals. -Entire form resembles a mountain, in contrast to vast flat terrain.

Function

-Gods descend from the heavens to a high place on earth->why the Sumerians built ziggurats as high places

Context

Context

Additional Information

--Located in Urak(Iraq), which is where the first written story is from. -Signifies a central authority with god and government in one building. -Due to the water protection capabilities, it had a practical function as a safe place during flooding.