Why were the temples of Sumerians built on elevated pieces land?

Temples of the Sumerians were not built on elevated land. They were, however, built on raised platforms known as ziggurats, which were artificial hills made of mud bricks. The ziggurats served several purposes, including elevating the temple above the surrounding area to make it more prominent, providing a solid foundation for the temple structure, and creating a symbolic link between the temple and the heavens.