By Bilal Haider
Religion was a highly important cultural trait to the Mesopotamians, relying on their many gods for many aspects such as agricultural success, and was the grounding basis for many of their achievements in architecture and artwork.
The Sumerian people developed the polytheistic religion of Mesopotamia, basing it around a belief of many gods and goddess, and evil demon like creatures. They believe that the creation of Earth was lead by four gods know as the "creator gods". The first, and highest ranked creator god , was the god An, god of the sky. Was considered the father parent and king of all gods, goddess, and the evil demon like creatures, known throughout Mesopotamian religion.
Statue depicting the sky god An ( also referred to Anu )
The next creator god, is Nin-Khunrsag known as the goddess of Earth, and as the mother goddess representing aspects of motherhood, and fertility. Was depended on by the Mesopotamians, for Irrigational success. She was highly worshiped among the Mesopotamian people.
Another creator god in the Mesopotamian religion, was Enlil, the wind, storm, and air god. In Mesopotamian belief, Enlil is the kin of both the sky god, An and the god Ki, carrying most of his supernatural attributes from his mothers side. Many Mesopotamian people pray to this god for agricultural success, with the response of Enlil varying. Sometime he would be considerate and bless his people, and sometimes he would feel they were un appreciative, and provoke a flood upon them. Throughout time in Mesopotamia, it is believed that Enlil had dethroned An, replacing him as the king of all gods.
Depiction of the God Enlil
The final creator god, is the Goddess Ki. Ki is known in Mesopotamian Religion as the goddess of Earth, and for the creation of the god Enlil, with the sky god An.
Many Mesopotamians told stories of gods and goddess through epics of all sorts. One the most famous epics is known as the Epic of Gilgamesh, depicting a story of the King Gilgamesh, who travels to great lengths to achieve immortality, when his friend dies. It is a story showcasing many deities and demons throughout.
Above is a video explaining the long story of Gilgamesh. I do not own this video, all rights belong to its respective creators.
The final aspect of The Mesopotamian religion, was how the rituals and actions they did to worship there Gods and Goddesses. Each city had a distinct patron god with shrines to pay homage to these and other gods. Large architectural structures known as Ziggurats, present throughout the city, were where much ritual practices, such as animal sacrifices, took place, mainly on the shrines located on the tops of the Ziggurats. The Ziggurats also housed the priest, who received many offerings from Mesopotamian people, making him feel pleased, thus making the gods pleased. Information on Ziggurat structures can be viewed on our Architecture and Art of Mesopotamians page.
Sculpture of a Mesopotamian Priest
Depiction of a religious offering by the Mesopotamian People
Even though the Mesopotamian Religion isn't present in todays time, it did lend a hand in the creation of the monotheistic religion Judaism, thus effecting other religions such as Christianity and Islam.
Bilal Haider - Period 5