Ancient Mesopotamia
Photo byCsbrAncient MesopotamiaThe Land Between the Rivers1TABLE
OF CONTENTS
PART IGeography and Writing
PART IIReligion and LiteratureFertile Crescent
Map Credit: NordNordWestMesopotamiaThe Land Between the
RiversEuphratesTigris
SumerThe Sumerians established the first city-states c. 3,000
B.C.
WritingWhat purposes does writing serve? Why is writing
necessary and useful?Photo byPascal Maramis
The Sumerians were the first to develop Writing
Sumerian Clay TabletCuneiform
(Latin: Wedge-Shaped)Photo bytortipedeMORE on cuneiform from the
British Museum.10PictogramsEarliest writing formWords represented
by symbols.
Click to Purchase Dora and the Rainbow Kite FestivalProfessional
Writershigh social statusrigorous education
ScribesA Scribe RemembersMy headmaster read my tablet,
said:There is something missing, caned me.
The fellow in charge of silence said: Why did you talk without
permission, caned me.The fellow in charge of the assembly said: Why
did you stand at ease without permission, caned me.Full Version
HERE
Photo byJD Hancock
Employed in temples and palaces, recording:financial
transactions legal documentsliteratureScribes
Photo byAstacus
Sumerian Numbers
Religion & Literature
What kind of characteristics do modern humans typically
attribute to God?
What is the purpose of human existence?
Deities and Existence
Photo byLeonard John MatthewsEnuma elishWhat does the Enuma
elish tell us about Mesopotamian ideas about their gods?
When on highCLICK HERE to ReadBenevolence / MalevolenceDeities
can be described as benevolent or malevolent toward human
beings.
Polytheism(Many Gods)Photo byTooMuchDew
Mesopotamian ReligionAnthropomorphism(Human-like
Gods)Malevolence (Ill-willed)
FloodsCatastrophic Floods were a regular part of life in ancient
Mesopotamia.Photo bystopherjones
5,000 Years
Photo byNASAHurricane KatrinaAugust, 2005
WHY?Photo byInfrogmation
Source: religioustolerance.org"Although the loss of lives is
deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city....New
Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public
celebration of sin...
Source: religioustolerance.org"May this act of God cause us all
to think about what we tolerate in our city limits, and bring us
trembling before the throne of Almighty God. -- Repent America
DID I DO THAT?
Photo byLeonard John MatthewsThe Ancient WorldviewThe gods
control the tap.
Lots of Rivers = Lots of Floods
MardukPatron god of BabylonRivers / Floods
If Marduk were a band
Yes, this is a real band called Marduk.
Photo byMetal ChrisHed Look Like this!
Bonaventura Peeters, The Great Flood (17th c.)The Great
FloodCLICK HERE to ReadThe world Bellowed like a wild
bullhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFu0WZMTxr0
LOUD NOISES!
Screenshot fromAnchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
(Dreamworks, 2004). Reproduced for instructional use.Ancient
Mesopotamians believed their gods destroyed humans because they
were TOO NOISY!The GOAL of Mesopotamian Religion?
ZigguratsMesopotamian TemplesLargest building in cityA home for
the godsPhoto byjmcfall
Photo Credit: NotwistIMMORTALITYIf you could live forever, would
you? Explain why or why not.The Epic of GilgameshKEY
THEMES:ImmortalityDeath
Photo byzayzayemCLICK HERE to ReadGilgamesh vs. Enkidu
Pictures: http://www.mythstories.com/oldmanR.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzBmQMyYDBk
After a good fight, Gilgamesh and Enkidu became best friends and
went on adventures together.
Best Friends
IshtarThe Goddess as AdversaryIshtar, a fertility goddess, fell
in love with Gilgamesh and tried to have him killed after he
rejected her.
She failed.
Some rights reservedbyfredthechicken
Utnapishtim
The SurvivorSORRY...Youre going to die!
Now What? The king has laid himself down and will not rise
again,The Lord of Kullah will not rise again;He overcame evil, he
will not come again;Though he was strong of arm he will not rise
again;He had wisdom and a comely face, he will not come again;He is
gone into the mountain, he will not come again;On the bed of fate
he lies, he will not rise again,From the couch of many colors he
will not come again.
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