Great Ziggurat of Geranu

Purpose / Function

The ziggurat is the premier worship site of Geranu's cult, god of the Sun, fire, cooking, food, the giver of fire to humanity, and the patron god of Sunaru. Other temples have been built in numerous other cities to worship the god, but none other in Kalumak approach the Great Ziggurat's size and majesty.

Architecture

As with every Kalu ziggurat, there are six levels in the structure, to honor each of the main six gods in the mainstream Kalu pantheon.
The first and sixth levels were made from dark gray stone, while the middle four were constructed from mud bricks. The first level mirrors the Great Ziggurat of Nugala in Kalasu, where there is a flower garden filled with statues of former high priestesses. The garden was filled with red, orange, and yellow blossoms and maintained by temple novices, the lowest priestesses in temple hierarchy. The second and third levels held the ziggurat's storehouses, slave quarters, a school, and kitchens. Levels four and five contain the priestesses' rooms, areas for private worship, and the temple library. The sixth level housed Geranu's shrine, which was painted bright red on the outside. The interior was richly decorated with gold and gemstones and contained a chamber for sacrifice and the sacred bed, where the god supposedly slept every night when Nugala's chariot took to the skies. As part of her initiation, every acolyte of Geranu must sleep in the bed with the god to show her devotion to him. Once an acolyte wakes up the next morning, she becomes one of Geranu's priestesses.

History

The Great Ziggurat of Geranu was built over the remains of an older temple that survived from the Third Kalumak before the Hatasuli invasion.

Type

Temple / Religious complex