Monte d’Accoddi – Mesopotamian Ziggurat In Europe Built By King Of Uruk?

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPage.com - In northern Sardinia, Italy there is an intriguing ancient site known as Monte d’Accoddi. Here, we come across a large ancient structure that reminds of a step pyramid.
As previously mentioned on Ancient Pages, the mystery Of Monte d’Accoddi remains unsolved.

There are many theories, but no-one knows whether the enigmatic structure is a pyramid, altar, ancient temple, or perhaps a mound. The structure’s purpose has been widely debated and some scholars have suggested it is a ziggurat, a massive stone structure built in ancient Mesopotamia. It has the form of a terraced compound of successively receding stories or levels.

Top left: Monte d’Accoddi's stepped pyramid. Credit: Wikipedia. Right left: Ziggurat of Ur. Credit: Wikipedia. Right: Reconstruction of Monte d’Accoddi's stepped pyramid. Credit: Philip Coppens

Who would build a ziggurat in Europe? If the mysterious stone structure is, in fact, a ziggurat, then there must have been a reason for its construction.

Today, Sardinia may seem like an isolated place, that is difficult to reach, but in ancient times this was an important center for many ancient civilizations. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, and people from Mesopotamia visited Sardinia.

Aerial view of the stepped pyramid at Monte d’Accoddi. Credit: LaPArS - Laboratorio di Preistoria e Archeologia Sperimentale 

Still, this doesn't explain why a ziggurat that we associate with Sumerians would be erected on the island. There is however an ancient legend that may perhaps shed some light on the mystery.

According to the legend, the ziggurat was built by a King of Uruk who left his country for unknown reasons and decided to live in Sardinia with all his tribe. The king's name is unfortunately not mentioned. Could this unknown king have been one of the rulers recorded on the Sumerian King List?
The Sumerian King List is a fascinating ancient document that lists kings of Sumer, the cities from which they ruled the lengths of their reigns.

The Sumerian King List describes the beginning of history, the time when ‘kingship descended from heaven and made Eridu the seat of the kingship. Photo: Ashmolean Museum

As the ancient legend tells, after settling down in Sardinia, the Sumerian King wanted to erect a building that reflected his religion. Stones brought from seaside were mixed with the limestone found at the site.

See also:

White Temple Of God Anu In Sacred Precinct Of Kullaba At Uruk

Uruk: The First City Built By King Gilgamesh 4,500 Years Ago

‘Nuraghi’ – Thousands Of Beehive-Like Towers Are Sardinia’s Greatest Mystery

In time, a ziggurat was built but instead of dedicating it to the Sun (the word ziqqurat means temple of the sun), he decided to dedicate it to the Moon. The stairs to the sky were a symbol showing humans that a spiritual lifestyle was the right way to achieve immortality.

Did you know that Chogha Zanbil is the oldest existing ziggurat in the Near East? 

The Sumerian king's ziggurat was later destroyed by natural forces. A violent storm demolished the structure and the King returned to his homeland.

According to the legend, this is why we today only see an “abnormal” hill at the site of Monte d’Accoddi.
Archaeologists have found many mysterious carved stones in the vicinity of the stepped pyramid. Near the south-eastern corner of the monument there is a dolmen, and across the ramp stands a considerable menhir, one of several standing stones found in the vicinity.

This suggests the place was of great importance to people who lived here. Some scholars say Monte d’Accoddi should be considered among the most important architectural manifestations of Mediterranean prehistory.

Written by  Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

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