Ziggurats were common in Mesopotamia and Iran
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggurat
and, to yokels from Judah who still had sheep shit caked in their toes, must have seemed to be a marvel. The fact that there were ruined Ziggurats observable would have required some explanation and the Babylonians already had one to pass along to their country bumpkin cousins.
Not surprisingly the activities of the priests in the ziggurats seem to mimic what we know of the activities of jewish "priests" in their temple:
Looks as if all these con men had the same racket.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggurat
and, to yokels from Judah who still had sheep shit caked in their toes, must have seemed to be a marvel. The fact that there were ruined Ziggurats observable would have required some explanation and the Babylonians already had one to pass along to their country bumpkin cousins.
Not surprisingly the activities of the priests in the ziggurats seem to mimic what we know of the activities of jewish "priests" in their temple:
Quote:a small number of guards could prevent non-priests from spying on the rituals at the shrine on top of the ziggurat, such as cooking of sacrificial food and burning of carcasses of sacrificial animals. Each ziggurat was part of a temple complex that included a courtyard, storage rooms, bathrooms, and living quarters,
Looks as if all these con men had the same racket.
