It's 1762 BCE. As dawn breaks in the Babylonian city of Sippar, Beltani— a priestess and businesswoman— receives an urgent visit from her brother. He makes a troubling accusation: her tavern keeper has been undermining the business...

The Ziggurat at Ur, constructed around 2100 B.C.E. by King Ur-Nammu, served as a monumental tribute to the moon deity Nanna and stood as the tallest structure in the ancient city of Ur, visible from great distances.

What are ziggurats, and why did ancient people build them? In this video, we explore these giant, step-shaped temples found in ancient Mesopotamia. Learn how ziggurats were made from mud bricks and stacked in layers to reach toward the...