The "ziggurat" represented in its form the mountain of the world, and the halls ranged at its feet resembled approximately the accessory parts of the world; the temple of Merodach at Babylon comprised them all up to the chambers of fate, where the sun received every morning the tablets of destiny.
"The World's Greatest Books, Vol XI."
Edited by Arthur Mee and J.A. Hammerton
Within the circuit of the city rose a mound, which the ancient builders had transformed, by the addition of masses of brickwork, into a nearly square platform, surmounted by the usual palace, temple, and ziggurat; it was enclosed within a wall of squared stone, the battlements of which remain to the present day.
"History Of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 6 (of 12)"
G. Maspero
The famous ziggurat of E-Sagila here mentioned was built in Seven Stages or Steps, each probably having its own distinctive colour.
"The Babylonian Legends of the Creation"
British Museum