Houses were built around ziggurats primarily because ziggurats served as the religious, social, and economic centers of ancient Mesopotamian cities. The ziggurat was dedicated to the city's patron deity and acted as a symbolic mountain that brought the people closer to their gods. The temple complex around the ziggurat included spaces for priests, administrative offices, schools, kitchens, and housing for the priests, which made it a focal point for both religious and daily activities of the community. The clustering of houses around the ziggurat made access to the temple easier for the populace who came to participate in rituals or observe ceremonies. It also reinforced the ziggurat’s role as the city's center and helped form a cohesive urban community with the religious heart at its core. Additionally, since the ziggurat was often the highest and most prominent structure, building houses around it helped protect the complex and ensured that it was a central part of city life. Furthermore, the ziggurat and its temple complex were not places for public worship but rather the home of the city's god(s), served by priests. The common people gathered around the temple complex for religious observances and to support the priestly functions, which made living nearby practical and socially cohesive.
