Introduction
The White Temple, Uruk at Iraq circa 3200 B.C.E., and the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, circa 2630 B.C.E. execute the basis for architectural comparisons. Despite the ancient origins of each respective architectural building, several components of the designs such as composition and style, will attempt to inform a cogent analysis and discussion herein. Each structure holds a particular meaning or function in its architectural design. A brief overview of history of the White Temple at Uruk, Iraq, will reveal that the citizens of this ancient dwelling eventually abandoned the region until approximately 300 AD, due to a combination of “both natural and man-made influences” (“The White Temple and the Great Ziggurat,” 2016). During the height of its contemporary cosmopolitan flourishing, Uruk was one of the most colossal and populous cities of its time, with an estimated inhabitants of over 40,000 people.
The background of the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, circa 2630 B.C.E. indicates that the evolution of the pyramid – concept and Egyptian design – may have burgeoned from this single, structural monument. The architectural brilliance of the Step or ‘Stepped’ Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara emerged from the first king’s Third Dynasty of Egypt, with little else known of his reign (Mark, “The Step Pyramid of Djoser,” 2016). This essay intends to contrast any differences or similarities of the two structures, by commenting on the composition, style, and technique of the architectural features of each building.
Discussion
How The Structures Are Similar
The similarities of ancient structures, such as the White Temple of Uruk/Iraq and Stepped Pyramid of Djoser, share a plethora of commonalities. First of all both building structures, and their remains, have survived thousands of years of time. This factor alone is worthwhile noting. One commonality and similarity of both structures is the religious or spiritual meanings attached to the significance of each building’s architecture. The White Temple of Uruk, Iraq circa 3200 B.C.E., whose ancient architectural site, by the way, is visible from the air, was constructed as a religious monument. According to academic sources, The White Temple’s purpose sought to honor the sky-god Anu, which helps explain why its structure would have “towered well above approximately 40 feet [above] the flat plain of Uruk, and been visible from a great distance” (“White Temple and ziggurat, Uruk”). The structure would have soared over the fortress-walls of the city.
Similarly, the base compostion structure is like a pyramid, encompassing four slightly sloping sides which suggest a visual focal point, politically. Both political heads in each case – White Temple and Stepped Pyramid of Djoser – mark spiritual deities as recognized authorities. In the case of the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, circa 2630 B.C.E., the intention of its erected monumental presence was ascribed to a funerary resting place for the Pharoah Djoser’s mummified dead body (“Egypt Secrets of an Ancient World – Step Pyramid of Djoser”). Likewise, and similar to the White Temple at Uruk building architecture, the height of the structure’s composition complemented its meaning and function, rising 204 feet high, according to the same aforementioned source.
Furthermore, in additionto the similarity of the spiritually deified significance of each ancient structure, the pyramidal style design of their respective foundational composition sustain mutual resemblances. Also, the traditional natural materials available to each structure’s building were composed of simple masonry such as clay bricks, stone, and such. Techniques may have differed in terms of details of constructed methods, however these two ancient buildings utilized natural materials. The White Temple and Great Ziggurat were composed of mud-brick, because stones were rare for that particular hinterland’s region (“The White Temple and the Great Ziggurat,” 2016). The Stepped Pyramid of Djoser was constructed of limestone blocks, which had the appearance of bricks of clay, and one historian Van de Mieroop, declared that “It had several plans with mastaba forms before it became the first Step Pyramid in history, piling six mastaba-like levels on top of one another,” (Mark, “The Step Pyramid of Djoser,” 2016). Although the Stepped Pyramid was meant for honoring the tomb enclosure as sacred, the White Temple shared the similarity of creation of a temple complex with a sacred purpose – in this case, to provide a dwelling place for their gods.
Contrast Differences & Architectural Features That Distinguish The Buildings
Just as the similarities emphasize the unique ancient architectural functions of both buildings, in terms of their sacred religious usages, the more specified spiritual uses differed. The district and city of Uruk, in the case of the White Temple circa 3200 B.C.E., the building type represented a new body-politic in gathering the majority citizens of the region. In this manner the building type of the White Temple in ancient Mesopotamia united all Sumerian cities in the area for a single purpose of worshipping the gods, whom they believed came or originally descended from the mountains (“The White Temple and the Great Ziggurat,” 2016). In other words, the idea in Uruk was to create a series of grand temple complexes, which served to perform religious rites. As such, according to the Sumerian Mesopotamian ancient culture and the aforementioned source, religion was so important that each part of the building’s structure seemed to play a key role of: main building, great court, limestone temple, round pillar hall, and more.
In stark contrast to a living place of worship of the gods, the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser held a sacred religiosity that reverenced the dead, in tomb fashion. Touted as the first Egyptian pyramid, the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser circa 2630 B.C.E., utilized its extensive stone architectural creation to honor a mystifying set of burial chambers underground. According to expert archeologists and ancient Egyptian scholars, as reported by National Geographic, the pioneering techniques of using more durable materials other than brick-clay, the “Step Pyramid complex was enclosed by a 30-foot (10-meter) wall and included courtyards, temples, and chapels covering nearly 40 acres,” which measured “the size of a large town in the third millennium B.C.” (“Egypt Secrets of an Ancient World – Step Pyramid of Djoser”). Interesting to note, Stanley Ramsey asserted that (in words ascribed to Professor Lethaby), that “we lost the art of building with the close of the Middle Ages,” and asserted that the word ‘architect’ referred to a master Mason-builder (13). However, these two magnificent specimens of ancient architecture most likely would have rivaled any modern structure, given a comparison of the raw materials, design, and spiritual function of the structures.
Specified features of the Step Pyramid at Djoser included six actual steps, topping a complex conglomerate of a second access, central passage, granite burial vault, blue-tiled chambers, and King’s apartment (“Egypt Secrets of an Ancient World – Step Pyramid of Djoser”). The sheer mystery of the structure suggested that this building held more of a reverence for their royal, dead nobility, despite the fact that sometime after its apparent ruins the tomb itself was plundered leaving everything of the King, but his mummified left foot. In contrast, the features of the White Temple’s construction would have certainly struck awe into the hearts and minds of its contemporary citizens at the sight of its massive underlying terrace. In other words, this sprawling terrace of the open areas at the top of the ziggurat as illustrated below: {Illustration courtesy of Khan Academy “White Temple and ziggurat, Uruk”}.
Conclusion
The structural differences related to the structural architectural design, and purpose, of each structure is obvious and apparent. While it is true that the architectural structures of the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara and the White Temple are similar in sacred meanings and significances, each structure had been uniquely designed. According to available materials at each ancient site, materials were utilized accordingly. The tasks of modern minds of scholars can only guess at what it felt like to really experience each monument at the time its opulence, and contemporary feeling of design, amidst the politics of the times. When each is studied via archeaology, perhaps more significances of each building’s structure will be uncovered in time. The features will remain impressive, and equally mysterious on some level of scholarly understanding.
Works Cited
“Egypt Secrets of an Ancient World – Step Pyramid of Djoser.” Nationalgeographic.com National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 14 January 2017.
Mark, Joshua. J. “The Step Pyramid of Djoser.” Ancient EU. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 2016. Web. 14 January 2017.
Ramsey, Stanley C. ‘Regional And Vocational Influences In Architecture.” Sociological Review (1908-1952) 15.1 (1923): 13-28. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 14 Jan. 2017.
“The White Temple and the Great Ziggurat in the Mesopotamian City of Uruk.” Ancient- origins.net Ancient Origins, 2016. Web. 14 January 2017.
“White Temple and ziggurat, Uruk.” Khan Academy Khan Academy, n.d. Web. 14 January 2017.
