stepped pyramid
Ancient terraced tomb
A stepped pyramid is a monumental structure built in successively smaller tiers, creating a staircase-like profile.
Ancient civilizations independently developed this form—Egyptian ziggurats, Mesopotamian temples, Mesoamerican pyramids.
The design likely emerged from practical construction limitations before smooth-sided pyramids were achievable.
The stepped pyramid at Saqqara predates the Great Pyramid by a century.
Stepped ancient temple mound
- TeotihuacanMesoamerican archaeological zone
- Chichen ItzaPre-Columbian archaeological site
- CholulaMexican hot sauce brand
- UrEarly Mesopotamian metropolis
Babylon · Giza · pharaoh · Maya · Aztec · Inca · Mesopotamia · Egypt
Raised flat outdoor areas
- platformsElevated flat surfaces
- tiersHorizontal arranged levels
- levelsHeights or ranked stages
- staircaseIndoor flight of steps
base · foundation · stone · blocks · masonry · construction · ascending · symmetry
Sacred worship structure
- altarSacred ritual table
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- priestsOrdained religious leaders
worship · deity · offering · procession · sanctuary · incense · pilgrimage · rites
Stacked levels or coatings
- gradationsSteps in a scale
- strataParallel geological layers
- sequentialOccurring in succession
- hierarchicalOrganized by rank
progressive · incremental · stages · cascade · elevation · height · apex · summit
ziggurat
Stepped ancient temple mound
- TeotihuacanMesoamerican archaeological zone
- Chichen ItzaPre-Columbian archaeological site
- CholulaMexican hot sauce brand
Ur · Babylon · Giza · pharaoh · Maya · Aztec · Inca · Mesopotamia · Egypt · Nubia
terraces
Raised flat outdoor areas
staircase · base · foundation · stone · blocks · masonry · construction · ascending · symmetry · geometry
temple
Sacred worship structure
priests · worship · deity · offering · procession · sanctuary · incense · pilgrimage · rites · oracle
layers
Stacked levels or coatings
- gradationsSteps in a scale
- strataParallel geological layers
- sequentialOccurring in succession
hierarchical · progressive · incremental · stages · cascade · elevation · height · apex · summit · receding
- ancient ruinsStonehenge, Pompeii, Colosseum, coliseum, Machu Picchu
- ancient architectureziggurat, ziggurats, temples, temple, palaces
- ancient pyramids
- Aztec structuresball court, causeway, aqueduct, sacrificial stone, Tenochtitlan
- Mesoamerican ruinsTikal, Chichen Itza, Tulum, Teotihuacan, ball court
- Mesoamerican symbolsjaguar, serpent, feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl, glyph