Chogha Zanbil, the greatest ziggurat in the world

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Ziggurats are, architecturally, the Mesopotamian equivalent of the Egyptianpyramids: large artificial square mountains of stone. They are equallyancient, only a ziggurat was not a tomb but a temple. The most famousziggurat is, of course, the "tower of Babel" mentioned in the Biblical bookGenesis: a description of the Etemenanki of BabylonThe ziggurat of Choga Zanbil is one of the most impressive monuments ofmodern Khuzestan, and must have been one of the most impressivemonuments of ancient Elam. Built by king Untaš-Napiriša (1275-1240) andnamed after him (Dur Untaš, "city of Untaš-Napiriša"), it measures 105x105meters and was probably 52 meters high.În Mesopotamia zigguratele au fost, din punct de vederearhitectonic, echivalentul piramidelor egiptene, piramide în trepte,mari munţi patraţi artificiali. La fel de vechi ca şi piramidele,zigguratele n-au fost însă morminte ci temple. Fără îndoială cel maifaimos dintre ele a fost „Turnul Babel”, menţionat şi în Biblie.Zigguratul de la Choga Zanbil, cel mai remarcabil exemplu dearhitectura elamita din lume, a fost construit de regele ElamuluiUntaš-Napiriša (1275-1240) şi măsura 105x105 metri, având oînălţime de 52 de metri.

In the center of Dur-Untaš (name of an Elamite town,modern Choga Zanbil) was the ziggurat, a type ofmonument that was always built by kings. In ancientMesopotamia, in the earliest times, there was a conflictbetween the two great organizations, the temple and thepalace. By building a ziggurat, the king showed that hecould perform more impressive religious deeds than theclergy.În centrul oraşului elamit Dur-Untaš (azi Choga Zanbil) afost construit zigguratul, un tip de monument care a fostîntotdeauna construit de regi. În Mesopotamia antică, încele mai vechi timpuri, a existat un conflict între celedouă mari puteri, clerul şi palatul, iar prin construireaunui zigurat, regele a demonstrat că putea realizaconstrucţii religioase mai măreţe decât cele construitede marele preot

Model of the ziggurat (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)Elamites were one of the earliest civilizations inthe world at the golden age of Mesopotamiancivilizations which lived along with the rivers ofKhuzestan.The ziggurat was built about 3300 years ago byking Untash-Napirisha, the emperor of Elamite tohonor of their great god, Inshushinak, theprotector of Susa.The ziggurat is considered to be the bestpreserved example in the world. In 1979,Chogha Zanbil became the first Iranian site to beinscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.Elamiţii, al căror prim regat a luat fiinţă înmileniul al III-lea, au constituit veriga de legăturadintre Iran şi Sumer. Este posibil ca zigguratulde la Choga Zanbil să fi fost cel mai mareziggurat construit vreodată. El este cel mai vechimonument de mari dimensiuni cunoscut în Iran,ridicat de Untash-gal, regele Elamului, în jurulanului 1250 î.Hr. în cinstea lui Inshushinak, zeulprotector al Susei. Excepţional de bine Untaš-Napirišas temple mountain, which was at some stage rededicated toconservat, este cel mai remarcabil exemplu de Inšušinak, once had five levels and is the best preserved of all ancientarhitectură elamită iar în anul 1979 a fost înscris ziggurats. It is easy to imagine that it once looked as if it reached to heaven,pe Lista Patrimoniului Mondial UNESCO and in Antiquity, it was even easier, because the building, now 25 meters high, used to measure 52 meters.

In order to prevent further damage to the ancient site, apartnership was established in the year 1998 among theIranian Cultural Heritage Organization, UNESCO and theInternational Center for Earth Constructions-Grenoble-France(CREATerre) along with Japanese-funds-in-trust (JFIT).În scopul de a preveni deteriorarea site-ului antic, în anul1998 a fost înfiinţat un parteneriat între Organizaţia iraniană aPatrimoniului Cultural, Centrul Internaţional de Construcţii-Grenoble-Franta (CREATerre), UNESCO şi societateajaponeză JFIT.

Numele regelui Untash era înscris pe fiecare cărămida de la DurUntash, deoarece acesta era considerat un centru religios tot atâtde important ca şi Susa, care desigur la acea vreme îşi aveapropriul ei zigurat. Pe aceste cărămizi regele Untash invoca peste20 de divinităţi cărora le-a înălţat sanctuare, ceea ce ne aratăpână unde ajunsese gândirea religioasă persană înainte derevelatţa monoteistă a zoroastrismului şi apoi a islamului.

Pe fiecare latură suntscări care conduc spreetajele superioare.

On the rectangular outer court, between the inner and the outer temenos walls, onecould also find several temples, especially in the eastern corner. They werededicated to Napratep, Shimut and Nin Ali, Shalu, and Pinikir.

The foot of one of the people who made the tiles.

Inside the gate was a second gate, which could beclosed. This is part of the giant lock. Once, the glazed bricks of the ziggurat were painted in fresh colors. On several places, you can still see traces of paint.

Doorknob from Choga Zanbil. Musei Vaticani (Rome) Doorknob(s) from Choga Zanbil (Louvre, Paris) Doorknob from Choga Zanbil (Archaeological museum of Susa) Doorknob from Choga Zanbil (Koninklijke musea voor kunstDoorknob from Choga Zanbil (British Museum, London) en geschiedenis, Brussel) Doorknob from Choga Zanbil (Archaeological Museum, Tehran)

Text : Internet Pictures: Sanda Foişoreanu Nicoleta Leu Internet slides 4, 5, 31 Copyright: All the images belong to their authors Arangement: Sanda FoişoreanuSound: Ghazal - Eternity www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Chogha Zanbil, the greatest ziggurat in the world

by michaelasanda * on Jun 15, 2012

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Chogha Zanbil, the greatest ziggurat in the world Presentation Transcript