Descriptions Etemenanki

reconstruction of etemenanki, based on schmid

a neo-babylonian royal inscription of nebuchadnezzar ii on stele babylon, claimed have been found in 1917 excavation robert koldewey, , of uncertain authenticity, reads: etemenanki zikkurat babibli [ziggurat of babylon] made it, wonder of people of world, raised top heaven, made doors gates, , covered bitumen , bricks. etemenanki depicted in shallow relief, showing high first stages paired flights of steps, 5 further stepped stages , temple surmounted structure. floor plan shown, depicting buttressed outer walls , inner chambers surrounding central cella.

scholars have discovered in schoyen collection oldest known representation of etemenanki. carved on black stone, tower of babel stele (as known) dates 604-562 bc, time of nebuchadnezzar ii.

the etemenanki described in cuneiform tablet uruk 229 bce, copy of older text (now in louvre in paris). gives height of tower 7 stocks (91 meters) square base of 91 meters on each side. mud brick structure confirmed excavations conducted robert koldewey after 1913. large stairs discovered @ south side of building, triple gate connected esagila. larger gate east connected etemenanki sacred procession road (now reconstructed in pergamon museum in berlin).

in 440 bce, herodotus wrote:

babylon s outer wall main defence of city. there is, however, second inner wall, of less thickness first, little inferior in strength. center of each division of town occupied fortress. in 1 stood palace of kings, surrounded wall of great strength , size: in other sacred precinct of jupiter [zeus] belus, square enclosure 2 furlongs [402 m] each way, gates of solid brass; remaining in time. in middle of precinct there tower of solid masonry, furlong [201 m] in length , breadth, upon raised second tower, , on third, , on eight. ascent top on outside, path winds round towers. when 1 half-way up, 1 finds resting-place , seats, persons can sit time on way summit. on topmost tower there spacious temple, , inside temple stands couch of unusual size, richly adorned, golden table side. there no statue of kind set in place, nor chamber occupied of nights 1 single native woman, who, chaldeans, priests of god, affirm, chosen himself deity out of women of land.

this tower of jupiter belus believed refer akkadian god bel, name has been hellenised herodotus zeus belus. corresponds etemenanki.

etemenanki has been suggested possible inspiration biblical story of tower of babel.