Changes

There was a great difference, however, between the ''mighdōl'' or watchtower, and the great Tower at [[Babylon]]. The watchtower was simply a high structure, probably without any special shape or form, which depended upon the will of the architect and the nature of the ground upon which it was erected. The Tower of Babel or Babylon was a structure peculiar to Babylonia and [[Assyria]]. According to ancient accounts as well as judging from the ruins of the various remains extant in those countries, Babylonian temple towers were square or rectangular in shape; they were built upward in stages, and provided with a stairway along each side to the top. These structures were finished with a small temple at its peak for religious ceremonies.

There was a great difference, however, between the ''mighdōl'' or watchtower, and the great Tower at [[Babylon]]. The watchtower was simply a high structure, probably without any special shape or form, which depended upon the will of the architect and the nature of the ground upon which it was erected. The Tower of Babel or Babylon was a structure peculiar to Babylonia and [[Assyria]]. According to ancient accounts as well as judging from the ruins of the various remains extant in those countries, Babylonian temple towers were square or rectangular in shape; they were built upward in stages, and provided with a stairway along each side to the top. These structures were finished with a small temple at its peak for religious ceremonies.

These buildings were called by the Babylonians ''ziqqurātu'' (Modern English: "ziggurat"), apparently meaning “peak,” or the highest point of a mountain; this word being applied to the mountain-height upon which Ut-napishtim, the Babylonian Noah of the Gilgamesh saga, offered sacrifices on coming forth from the ark (or ship) when the waters of the great Flood had sufficiently subsided. It has also been conjectured that they were used as observatories when the Babylonians studied the starry heavens. This is probable, but as the ziggurats were of no great height, it is possible that in the clear atmosphere of the Babylonian plains there was no real necessity to go above the surface of the earth when making their observations.

These buildings were called by the Babylonians ''ziqqurātu'' (Modern English: "ziggurat"), apparently meaning “peak,” or the highest point of a mountain; this word being applied to the mountain-height upon which Ut-napishtim, the Babylonian Noah of the Gilgamesh saga, offered sacrifices on coming forth from the ark (or ship) when the waters of the great Flood had sufficiently subsided. It has also been conjectured that they were used as observatories when the Babylonians studied the starry heavens. While the ziggurats were of no great height, sufficient height would be needed to surmount the evening smoke that would linger over the city as the nights cooking, light and heating needs filled the air with smoke that was pressed near the ground by the evening's cool air.  Doubtless rising above the evening's dull warm glow of light pollution (partially shrouded in smoke) also gave a clearer view of the stellar heavens as they practiced simultaneously the art of Astronomy and the imposition of Astrology thereon.

==Location==

==Location==