According to our book on page 53 "Although the step pyramid resembles the ziggurats of Mesopotamia, it differs in both meaning (signifying a stairway to the sun god Ra) and purpose (protecting a tomb)." These are very significant differences as they incline the religious thought processes in how a temple is used, where as in the last chapter we learn that Ziggurats were used to indicate sacred mountain imagery and were used as a place of worship.
In the Egyptian ideals the pharaohs and queens of Egypt were gods and represented the physical form of the gods for the time of their rule. The pyramids were built along with the temples at the end of the Old Kingdom and the beginning of the New Kingdom to allow for the worship of the gods and the continuation of the pharaoh after death into the next life. It is also in these very elaborate temples and tombs that we see the funeral rites of the dead and the great lengths that were taken in mummification to preserve the physical form of the god.
Ziggurats were used during the lives of the rulers and signified a way to reach out to heaven and ask for the intercession of the gods on their behalf. These rulers were not the physical embodiment of the gods but rather the gods and rulers were glorified by the steps to the top of the mountain like shapes. They showed the people the prestige of the rulers by allowing them to ascend to the heights to worship the gods.
Another thing that is significant to notice about both is that none of the ziggurats progress to become smooth sided triangle shapes. The start out steps and remain steps however only one of the pyramids of Giza is a stepped mound. All the rest have the appearance of solid triangles. Each at one time or another had an entrance that is now reopened by the prying eyes of the world through archeologists without whom we would not have as much knowledge as we do about both.
Another difference is that Ziggurats had their temples built on the top of the structure, yet the pyramids have their temples either built within on the main level with the tomb hidden beneath or at the end of a long passage on the grounds of the pyramid. One tells of the ascendance of man to the level of the gods above it all and untouched by the daily grind. The other speaks loudly of the gods coming down from the mountain to live among men, die among men, and visit us for meals and adoration.
In the Egyptian mind set gods were living with us so that we could become better humans by showing us how to live and treat others. In the minds of the individuals whom used ziggurats for religious purposes showed the importance of worshiping god to spread faith amongst the people. If you could afford to have the ability to rise above the masses to worship in full view of all this speaks more of your power than that of the people.
In the end I would say that each is equally important regardless of their role in the society they were built in. In our time we are just as impressed by their knowledge and ingenuity it took to accomplish them and the fact that people would trust in their religion so strongly that they would put their entire lives into that construction. Separated by the differences and brought together by faith.
I agree with what you said about the importance in our time to look at these structures. Both are very complex and the man power it took to build them was so big, its hard to think that it was even possible. It also makes sense to say that the ziggurats were used to reach out to the heavens and serve as a connection to the gods and the humans, and this explains why they were built in the triangle shape and stood high above the ground. Great post, thank you!
ReplyDeleteI like the last statement you made. I think you're right in saying that both the pyramids and the ziggurats are equally important. Both people had strong beliefs in constructing these massive buildings. Religion often is a very powerful driving force for nations to move forward whether or not outsiders believe it to be the right religion or the right cause. Egyptians and Mesopotamians alike both used their religious beliefs for a good cause and even if we agree or disagree with their beliefs, it is nice to have such amazing architecture as a result.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It is very interesting how you mentioned the difference of the two temples. Ziggurat temples were above the building and shows how the men had to go up towards the gods to worship them, and the pyramids had their temples deep below the ground and this means that their gods had to come down to be worshiped with the dead. These are two very different temples with different meaning and purpose behind them.
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