At the summit of the tower was probably in every case a shrine, or chapel, of greater or less size, containing altars and images.

The ascent to this was on the outside of the towers, which were entirely solid; and it generally wound round the different faces of the towers, ascending them either by means of steps or by an inclined plane.

Special care was taken with regard to the emplacement of the tower, either its sides or its angles being made exactly to confront the cardinal points.

It is said that the temple-towers were used not merely for religious purposes but also as observatories, a use with a view to which this arrangement of their position would have been serviceable.
Besides the shrine at the summit of the temple-tower or ziggurat, there was commonly at the base of the tower, or at any rate somewhere within the enclosure, a second shrine or chapel, in which the ordinary worshipper, who wished to spare himself the long ascent, made his offerings.

Here again the ornamentation was most costly, lavish use being made of the precious metals for images and other furniture.