Mesopotamian Culture

1
Mesopotamian Culture

• I. Religion
• A. Gods living realities that affected all
  aspects of life
• B. City-sates- viewed as earthly copies of divine
  model order

2

• C. Temple- center of city life
• D. Environment / Religion- rivers shaped view of
  universe (floods)

3

• E. Polytheistic / 4 Main Deities
• 1. An (god of sky)
• a.most important force in universe
• b. source of all authority

4

• 2. Enil (god of wind) expression of
  legitimate use of force
• 3. Enki (god of Earth)
• a. Also god of rivers
• b. Represented waters creativity, as
  such was responsible for invention crafts

5

• 4. Ninhursaga- (associated soil, mountains,
  vegetation)
• a. Eventually worshiped as mother goddess
• b. Mother of all children / manifested
  power by giving birth to kings
  conferring royal insignia on them

6

• 4 gods ranked supreme but there were numerous
  other gods.

7

• F. Human Relations to Gods
• 1. Subservient
• 2. Insecure
• 3. Divination- variety of forms developed
  out of desire to figure out gods
• a. Animal sacrifice
• b. Interpretation of dreams
• c. Astrological/ horoscope

8

• G. Writing- 3000BCE
• 1. Cuneiform- wedge shaped sytem of writing
• 2. Originally pictograph
• 3. Phonetics allowed abstract ideas
• 4. Primarily used for record keeping
• 5. LiteratureThe Epic of Gilgamesh