Preview

Djoser vs Zinggurat

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
510 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Djoser vs Zinggurat
Bih Mancho
Proff Vick
Art 104
24 September, 2011 Djoser vs. Ziggurat Djoser, the Third Dynasty King gave permission for the earliest known architectural monument in Egypt to be constructed “The Step Pyramid”. The Architect behind this great structure was someone whom worked very closely with Djoser in governing Saqqara, His Prime Minister, by name Imhotop. Imhotep is the first architect in history to be identified. In the beginning Imhotep intended to make Djosers tomb a one floor mastaba it was only later on that he made the decision to make it bigger. It was the final structure is what was given the name the Step Pyramid. (Stokstad53) This structure was built as a result of elaborate Egyptian funerary practices to make sure that those who died actually moved on into the afterlife safely and effectively (Stokstad53) The Ziggurat on the other hand was constructed under the rule of King Urnammu of Ur. During his reign the king Urnammu funded a good number of building campaigns. As a result of his sponsorship the well-known Ziggurat was constructed with a concept of imperial authority (pg36). Both structures were quite vast in size and seem to have covered a large area of land. The Ziggurate was constructed with mud brick while that of the Pyramid was constructed with limestone. The Ziggurat had a rectangular base of 205 by 141 feet with 3 sets of stairs which all came together at the entrance gate (Stokstad36). The Pyramid on the other hand is a 92 foot shaft that descended from the original mustaba. Enclosed within the pyramid a descending corridor at the base of the step pyramid provided an entrance from outside to the burial ground (Stokstad53). In my opinion the Nanna Ziggurat is more appeling to the eye than the structure of the Step Pyramid. The Ziggurate was constructed as a dedication to the moon god Nanna, also called Sin (pg36). The Pyramid was equally created with respect to a

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    These pyramids took place in the Third Dynasty during 2630-2575 BC. King Djoser commissioned this monumental architecture in Egypt. The designer was Djoser’s prime minister, Ihotep, whose name is inscribed on a statue at the site. The purpose was to hold his mummified body. The Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser's at Saqqara arose as a traditional, flat-roofed mastaba, although in 2611 B.C., by the end of his nineteen-year reign, it had risen to six stepped layers and stood two hundred and four feet or sixty-two meters high, making it the largest building at this time. The Funerary Complex of Djoser is a large pyramid structure that looks like steps with six structures stacked on top of one another, each one decreasing in size. The material used was limestone. These pyramids were usually eighteen hundred feet long by nine hundred feet wide; overall in size they were very large. Below the structure was the underground burial area, which consisted of a small room that held a statue of the deceased and there was a chapel for family to gather. A shaft then led down to the burial area that was sealed after the burial. This structure was west facing towards the setting sun. Under…

    • 1402 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    15. Ziggurats- (among the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians) a temple of Sumerian origin in the form of a pyramidal tower, consisting of a number of stories and having about the outside a broad ascent winding round the structure, presenting the appearance of a series of terraces.…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The pyramids are large like ziggurats, but they have smooth sides and don't have steps on the outside. The pyramids are built for the burial of the pharaohs and the ziggurats are in the center of the town. They led to the city's patron god.…

    • 624 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ziggurat: a massive pyramidal stepped tower made of mud bricks. It is associated with religious complexes in ancient Mesopotamian cities, but its function is unknown.…

    • 2649 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    King Djoser’s Step Pyramid is located at Saqqara (Millmore, Mark). King Djoser began working on his mastaba tomb in 2667-2648 B.C. (Millmore, Mark). The construction started out with “an enormous mastaba of stone”. Then another one was built on top of that and another one on the second and so on (Millmore, Mark). This pyramid is the world’s first pyramid (Millmore, Mark). The chapels are located around the base. The pyramid also contain a vast courtyard for the king’s festivals (Millmore, Mark). Tombs located at Saqqara belongs to…

    • 586 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Its novel plan was the inspiration for Hatshepsut 's later neighbouring monument. The complex is seen to be 'evidence [...] of the transition from the Old Kingdom pyramid temple to the 'houses of millions of years ' of the New Kingdom '5 and so is significant in the movement of Ancient Egyptian architecture. Within the complex, a series of painted sandstone statues of Mentuhotep were found which 'are the earliest to represent the dead king in the so-called 'Osirian ' pose '6 (see Fig 2). Additionally, Mentuhotep seems to have been the first king to build a 'grand stone hypostyle hall in Egyptian architecture, with 80 octagonal columns '7 of which remains can still be seen today (see Fig…

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ziggurats Research Paper

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ziggurats, a type of temple and/or temple complexes, were first built in Sumerian cities. The temples were built on top of high platforms in the center of the city. Although no one has exactly figured out why they were built or what their purpose was, they likely connected with the religion of the time for use of worship or dedication. One of the most famous ziggurats was built in the Sumerian state of Ur and was built under the reign of king Ur-Nammu to honor the mood-god, Sin.…

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Humanities 101

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Ziggurats at Uruk and Ur: sunbaked, mud-brick stuck together with asphalt, 100 meters high, temple on top…

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    A few elements only were of stone. Djoser's Step Pyramid complex at Saqqara was the earliest construction of its size in world history fully made of stone." Using stone to build the pyramid is seemed to be Imhotep's idea because of the engraving on the Step Pyramid as the chief architect. Imhotep designed the pyramid while being under Djoser's wing. The credit was divided amongst him and his king. Later, Moroslay Verner recorded that Egyptians referred to Djoser as the "opener of stone", which means that he was the first one to use stone to build with. The Step Pyramid was very intricate and complex, it was designed to amaze and inspire. The Step Pyramid was the tallest structure during its time, measuring up to 204 feet high. The nearby vicinity contains a temple, shrines, courtyards, and living quarters for the priests in an area that covers just about 40…

    • 609 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    CCOT Latin America

    • 1411 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Imhotep and Djoser designed the stepped pyramid of Djoser. It is located at Saqqara, near Memphis; it was Egypt’s capital at the time.…

    • 1411 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Teotihuacan

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages

    high). Construction of the pyramid started around 100 C.E., and it was built without modern technological advances, like metal tools, pack animals, and the wheel. It was built out of a large force of manpower and stone tools. The pyramid was painted over with colorful murals and paintings, with depictions of jaguars, stars, and snake rattles. Some scholars believe that the pyramid’s orientation may be in accordance with celestial patterns, as evidence suggests that the inhabitants of Teotihuacan did have knowledge of mathematical and astronomical sciences. However, this has yet to be proven. The Pyramid of the Moon, smaller in size, is at the northern end of the avenue. Human and animal sacrificial remains, along with grave goods, were found in the pyramid itself. “One of the most significant tombs yet discovered at Teotihuacan, it might indicate that even more important tombs lie buried at the heart of the pyramid.” (Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the…

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pyramidal construction is as old as Egyptian history itself, going back to the beginning of the 3rd…

    • 1889 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Both the Maya and the Egyptians constructed these enormous pyramids that in a way stand as memorials to their ancient civilizations. The Mayan built shrines, temples, and pyramids in honor of their gods, and their kings. Most of the Mayan pyramids were temples to the gods, the Maya did sometimes bury their rulers, but the temple always remained on the top of the pyramid no matter what. Mayan pyramids were not only burial tombs like Egyptian pyramids, whose primary purpose was funerary, containing mortuary chambers. Egyptians had temples also, but theirs would be somewhere near the pyramid or right next to it, for the ceremonial services, but it was never placed on top of the structure because Egypt's pyramids come to a point at the top (The…

    • 173 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Early Pyramids Essay

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The building of pyramids first started around 2700 B.C. when the first step pyramid was built for King Zoser in Saqqara, Egypt. Ever since then, pyramids have been commonly associated with Egyptian society. There were various types of pyramids, including (but not limited to) Mastabas, step-pyramids, and the bent-pyramid. Mastabas were not the true pyramid shape, neither were step-pyramids or the bent-pyramid for that matter. Mastabas were shaped similarly to pyramids, but were flat-topped and had sloping sides. Step pyramids were essentially just Mastabas piled on top of one another because, like the name implies, they consisted of "steps" going all the way to the top of the structure. The bent-pyramid was Egypt's first attempt…

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ancient Egyptian Pyramids

    • 1006 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The ancient pyramids had very prominent roles in preserving the Egyptian culture. They were especially important in both the death and afterlife of the ruling pharaoh. The construction of the pyramids began around 4,000 years ago during a time period when the Egyptian civilization was at its peak (“Egyptian”). Their main purpose was to protect the spirit of the pharaoh once he passed away and lead him to…

    • 1006 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics