Mesopotamian Religion Flashcards
It has been claimed that the basic structure and ideology of Mesopotamian religion was largely Sumerian in origin. How could this claim be substantiated on the basis of Schneider 2011? What similarities and differences can we observe? Which similarities can be attributed to cultural continuity, and which differences can be attributed to cultural innovation?
Similarities:
1. Life after death – Inanna/Ishtar’s descent to the Netherworld “one of the few mythological texts that had a clear Sumerian prototype.” “the existence of an Akkadian version, regardless of the similarities or differences, suggests a continuity with main themes in Mesopotamian religion.”
2. God lists
Differences:
1. cosmogony “no extant Sumerian myths directly address the creation of the world and people’s place in it” however: Eridu tradition, Enki wees on the world and brings it to life/animates it, does not create world), “the general idea that humans were created to serve the deities does not change radically.”
2. Enki and Ninmah: Separation heaven and earth, and then creation of humans to serve gods by producing food for them, mixing of blood and clay and carrying till birth by mother-goddess -> Enuma Elish “this text discusses the origin of the earth, the gods, and the role of humans in the world.” + Atrahasis (the flood) “humans are created to provide for the gods”
3. “the theme that mankind was created to do the work for the gods continues through the end of ancient Mesopotamian civilisation”
The Mesopotamian pantheon was not fixed. Give examples of gods competing with each other or even replacing each other.
The gods that competed with each other were An, first, then with Enlil, parallel kingship – Enlil began to surpass An, kingship over the gods taken by Marduk/Assur from Enlil – and Marduk and Nabu together supreme / Inanna and Ishtar equated
There is discussion about the nature of myths. Discuss the four possible purposes of these texts mentioned by Schneider. Which one would you choose and why?
- Purpose of making sense of the universe and our existence (cosmogeny and anthropogeny) and role of the gods within that as directors of everything / religious doctrine / theological treatises
- Ritual purpose, cultic function
- Literary/artistic purpose for personal literary aspirations / entertainment
- Political purpose, “pride in one’s city may take precedence over tradition or earlier belief systems”
Discuss the development of the relationship between kings and high priests in the course of time
- The relationship between kings and high priests was before the first millennium clearly divided, but then the generals (which were necessary for the continued survival of the city-state, enjoyed the power and appointed themselves kings) started to encroach increasingly on the temple organisation, still needing the economic system of the temple, temples needing security working together, king ruled more city-states and thus more powerful, ultimately asserted themselves above the high priests, taking over as high priest themselves.
What was the basic raw material in Mesopotamia and what was it used for
clay:
buildings, cuneiform writing, tablets
What kind of sources informs us about religion?
Sources: Epic texts
* Disputations
* Lists
* Ritual texts
* Prayers
* Hymns
* Wisdom literature
* Laws
* Inscriptions
Who are the 13 major deities of the Babylonian Pantheon?
- Marduk
- Ashur
- Anu
- Enlil
- Ea
- Sin
- Shamash
- Nergal
- Ishtar
- Ninurta
- Nabu
- Gula
- (H)adad
What are the pre- innovations of the 13 major deities from the Sumerian Pantheon?
- innovation
- innovation
- An
- Enlil
- Enki
- Nanna
- Utu
- innovation
- Inanna
- Ninurta
- innovation
- Gula
- Ishkur
Marduk
head of the Babylonian pantheon; took Enlil’s place as head (but not father)
of the gods; son of Ea; god of Babylon (innovation)
holding the rod and ring:
Ashur
national god of Assyria; took Marduk’s place when Assyria ruled
over the ANE (innovation) city: Ashur
winged sun-disc
Anu
sky-god; had a prominent place in the pantheon, as a primordial deity, but lost power to Marduk; city: Uruk. (Semitic continuation of
An)
Enlil
associated with wind, air, and storms. He was the chief deity of the
Sumerian and Akkadian pantheon (head or even father of the Gods), but
lost his prominence to Marduk, though he did not disappear; city: Nippur (Enlil)
Ea
subterranean fresh water; wisdom; creation; city: Eridu (Enki)
bird, water, fish
Sin
moon-god; Ur, city: later Harran (Neo-Babylonian). (Nanna)
characteristic up-side-down crescent:
Shamash
sun-god; justice; law; city: Sippar. (Utu)
as the sun
rising between the eastern mountains: (on his shoulders)
depiction of Shamash,
giving King Hammurabi the rod and ring
Nergal
netherworld; city: Kutha. (innovation)
characteristic sword
and double lion-headed standard:
Ishtar
eroticism and sexuality; war; city: Uruk. (Inanna)
characteristic attributes
(rosette, weapons, horned crown, wings):
Ninurta
warrior; farming; city: Nippur, later Kalhu (Neo-Assyrian). (Ninurta)
wings, double trident, weapons
Nabu
destinies, scribe > wisdom > irrigation; city: Borsippa (innovation)
high crown, standing on animal
Gula
healing; city: Isin. (Gula)
a dog sitting by her side:
Hadad
storm; political power; cities: Hurrians, Hittites, Aramaeans (Ishkur)
often holding a club and thunderbolt while wearing a bull-horned headdress.
How did the priest have roles and tasks?
people didn’t have to focus on food anymore -> more time for activities
