The next division is the space or platform apparently walled, and called a ki-galli, sur, or birut. It is uncertain if this was paved, and its extent is also uncertain. It is stated as a square, 3 ku in length, and 3 ku in breadth, but the value of the ku is uncertain. The 4 walls faced the cardinal points, in this agreeing with the other parts, all the buildings having their sides east, west, north, and south.
There were 4 gates, one in the centre of each side of this division: 1, the gate of the rising sun (east); 2, the southern gate; 3, the gate of the setting sun (west); 4, the northern gate.
Inside stood some building or enclosure, the name of which is damaged. It was 10 gar long and 10 gar broad (200 feet by 200), connected with the great Ziggurat or tower, which was the inner and crowning edifice of the group. Round the base of the Ziggurat or tower were ranged the chapels or temples of the principal gods, on its 4 sides and facing the cardinal points.
On the eastern side stood a sanctuary or temple 70 or 80 cubits long and 40 cubits broad (117 or 133 feet by 67), with 16 shrines, the principal being the shrines devoted to the god Nebo and Urmit, or Tasmit his Wife. Nebo was considered the eldest son of Bel, the great deity of the temple.
On the northern side stood 2 temples, one devoted to the god Hea, the other to Nusku. The temple of Hea was 85 cubits long and 30 broad (142 feet by 50 feet), and that of Nusku was a square, 35 cubits each way (58 feet by 58 feet).
On the southern side stood a single temple dedicated to the two great gods Anu and Bel. This was 70 cubits long and 30 cubits broad (117 feet by 50 feet).
On the western side were the principal buildings, consisting of a double house, with a court between the two wings. On the one side the wing was 100 cubits long and 65 cubits broad (166 feet by 108 feet), and the space between them was 35 cubits wide (58 feet). The building at the back was 125 cubits long and 30 cubits broad (208 feet by 50 feet). I do not properly comprehend the disposition of the buildings of this side, and my description of the position of the western temples must be taken as conjectural. In these western chambers stood the couch of the god, and the throne of gold mentioned by Herodotus, besides other furniture of great value. The couch is stated to have been 9 cubits long and 4 cubits broad (15 feet by 6 feet 8 inches).
In the centre of these groups of temples stood the grandest portion of the whole pile, the great Ziggurat, or temple tower, built in stages, its sides facing the cardinal points.
The bottom or first stage was a square in plan 15 gar in length and breadth, and 5½ gar in height (300 feet square, 110 feet high). This stage appears to have been indented or ornamented with buttresses.
The next or second stage of the tower was also square, being 13 gar in length and breadth, and 3 gar in height (260 feet square, 60 feet high). The epithet applied to this stage is obscure; it had probably sloping sides.