Ziggurats were so large primarily because they were monumental religious structures built to connect the earth to the heavens, symbolizing an artificial mountain where gods could reside. Their large size reflected the cultural and religious importance as the earthly homes of deities and was intended to elevate priests closer to the gods, reinforcing the gods' presence and the power of the ruling authority. Additionally, their imposing size demonstrated the technological, organizational, and political strength of Mesopotamian city-states. The ziggurat's height also served practical purposes, such as protecting the temple from floods in the flood-prone Mesopotamian region and potentially serving as observatories for star observations by priests. Their construction from mud bricks and baked bricks, large staircases, and tiered form were architectural features that made them physically prominent and symbolically significant in society.
