Tower of Babel Gallery

Tower of Babel Gallery (Please see separate pictures)

Mesopotamian ziggurats were staged temple towers that lifted worshippers closer to their gods. The biblical ziggurat, called the Tower of Babel, symbolized humanity in rebellion against God in their attempt to ascend to heaven. The Tower of Babel story has come to symbolize human sin. Examine this collection of Tower of Babel pictures to understand the nature of ziggurats and how artists have used it to portray human sin.

Note that some of the thumbnail photos are buttons that will take you to a virtual museum site for a large version of the picture if you have a live internet connection.

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Etemenanki A model of the city of Babylon, with its ziggurat Etemenanki on the right and Esagila, the principal temple of Marduk, on the left. Wetzel (1938), plate 17b.

Ziggurat Remains at Ur These are the remains of the ancient ziggurat at Ur, partially restored.

Reconstruction of the Ur-Nammu Ziggurat Woolley (1939)

Reconstruction of the Ziggurat of Nabonidus Woolley (1939)

The "Little" Tower of Babel, by Pieter Bruegel (c. 1525-69) 1563. Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam.

The Tower of Babel, by Pieter Bruegel (c. 1525-69) 1563. Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna.

The Tower of Babel, by Gustav Doré 1866