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.

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The game draws on various ancient empires for its lore, from Celtic mythology and the Roman empire, to ancient Polynesia, Aztec ziggurats and ruins. —

Jason Bennett, arkansasonline.com, 12 Jan. 2025 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 See all Example Sentences for ziggurat