They had several important purposes:
>- Religious Significance: Ziggurats were the focal point of Sumerian religious rituals and ceremonies. Each city-state had its patron deity, and the main temple of that deity would be located on top of the ziggurat.
>- Astronomical Observations: Sumerian priests used ziggurats to study astronomy. The stepped structure allowed them to make accurate observations of the sun, moon, and stars.
>- Political Power: Ziggurats were also symbols of political power and prestige. The tallest and most impressive ziggurats were built by the most powerful city-states.
>- Economic Activities: Ziggurats sometimes included market areas and workshops at the bottom.