...ASSESSMENT TASK ANCIENT RELIGIONS Religions of Ancient Mesopotamia George Pauls 10K Ms. Delalande (Note: Ms Delanlande instructed that essay format was permitted and an extension was granted in regards to my absence.) George Pauls 10K Year 10 Religious Education Assessment Task Ancient Religions – Religions of Ancient Mesopotamia Many religions around the world in modern time are still believed and followed by a large portion of the world’s population with the predominant religions being Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Many Religions have simply come to a halt and ceased to be believed and followed such as the religions in Ancient Egypt and Ancients Greece. One of the lesser known and arguably the oldest ancient religion of our world was the ancient religion on Mesopotamia, which did follow some key concepts from the other foreign ancient religions in which there were multiple gods, goddesses and other deities and supreme beings. It is believed to have originated over fifty centuries ago. Mesopotamia is known more commonly known as Iraq, situated within the Middle East. The religion of Ancient Mesopotamia consists of numerous components. The God Anu (Below) The God Anu (Below) The Mesopotamian religion was followed by Sumerians and Akkadians (Assyrians/Babylonians) who lived in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamian religion was basically perceived as a form of paganism with over 2100 deities which associated with a specific region, city or state within Mesopotamia. The main deities...
Words: 990 - Pages: 4
...Between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers lies a land called Mesopotamia. Around 3300 B.C., the world’s first civilization developed in Mesopotamia’s southeastern region. Since one of the basic features of a civilization is a complex religion, one can imagine that the first civilization had many religious and moral beliefs. Their beliefs shaped the way that Mesopotamians lived their every day lives. These religious and moral beliefs included practicing polytheism, believing in afterlife, and favoring justice. The ancient Mesopotamians were polytheistic, which means they worshipped and believed in more than one god. They believed that the gods and goddesses controlled all aspects of life. The people liked to appeal to the major gods and the gods of natural forces. Mesopotamians also thought that it was their job to make the gods happy, and in return, the gods would protect their city-state. To ensure this protection the people would build temples, make sacrifices, and perform rituals for the gods. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh prayed and made sacrifices to many different gods. Before Gilgamesh and Enkidu left on their adventure, they gave offerings to...
Words: 597 - Pages: 3
...defines and perceives god. Creation is the act of bringing the world into order and existence. Whether it is through creation or evolution all of these religions have a starting point of how they believe the world came to exists. When your life is over, where do you go? That answer depends on faith, religion, and the path one chooses to follow. Even though these religions have different views, they all still share a common ground and believe in something. In religion you have two main beliefs polytheism and monotheism. Polytheism believes in multiple deities called god and goddesses. Monotheism is the belief that only one god exists. Some believers of polytheism include Hinduism, Buddhism, ancient Egyptians, and ancient Mesopotamia. Hinduism believes that all deities are separate entities. Most people believe in different deities expanding from a single God. That one single entity is never defined and for the most part Hindus continue to hold one God above all others. They believe in Brahman he is the universal soul, and it is said that all men are considered Brahmans. Buddhism believes in “the Buddha” Siddhartha Gautama. The Buddha looks with a kind heart equally on all living beings, and they call him father. Buddha can be anything you worship because in Buddhism there is no absolute god. In the ancient Egyptian religion they saw the actions of the gods behind all the elements and forces of nature. However, they did not believe that the gods merely controlled these events...
Words: 1280 - Pages: 6
...Egypt Dialectical Notes Text | Response | The story of Osiris, Isis, and Horus was very well known in Egypt.Numerous references to parts of the story exist in ancient Egyptian sources, the Pyramid Texts, and the Book of the DeadThoth then added the 5 days he had won from moon to the normal solar year of 360 daysWhen he began his rule, his people were nomads. They lived a simple life, wandering from place to place and gathering the fruits of the earth. Osiris united these tribes and taught them to be highly civilized people. He taught them the art of farming so they could acquire more and better foods from the earth…Osiris had hardly settled himself inside the box when the conspirators quickly picked up the cover, placed it upon the box, and nailed it down imprisoning the unsuspecting king. To make certain that Osiris would suffocate, they poured melted led over the box.Nut gave birth to 5 children.In time, Isis gave birth to Osiris’s son whom she named Horus.I shall teach you the words of power that will protect Horus from death on earth, in the world above, and in the other worldThe infant had been restored to lifeOnce Osiris was properly buried, Horus prepared to do his part to return his father to life. He led Isis and Nephthys to the world of the dead where they found Osiris.. gradually the dead god came to life.Horus then rore after Isis … when he caught her, he fought as fiercely as he had fought with set. Finally, Horus cut off her head.Thoth immediately used his...
Words: 450 - Pages: 2
...Write a short essay on Druids and similar priests in Europe B.C. In this essay I will compare the druids, so the Celtic religion to the Greek ancient religion. There are similarities but most of the items are differences. Druids were the priests of the Celtic tribe. They had great power because of their spread of belief and for the role they had in the society. First of all, they could go over a ruler. So the druids were acting like judges, advisers, doctors but also as magicians or poets. Druids had ceremonies of mistletoe that involved animal sacrifice it was also a tradition for the Greek tribes. They both thought that their gods need them to pay in some form of a sacrilege. But the druids were also known for the human sacrifice. They strongly believe in the soul that is not dying but it takes another body. This sacrifice it was an act of bravery, of approaching god. Also the druids had this Underworld, were to be found fairies as the guardians. Greek priests were not forming a college of priests like the druids, they were separated. Each priest had his deity to worship and they remain devoted to that only god. “The priest’s role was not that of a rabbi or pastor – he tended not the worshipers but the deity. He would serve only the cult of one deity, and his authority as priest was limited to the cult of that deity. “ As for the rituals, priests would deliver prayers; they had libations all in a religious ceremony. The animal sacrifice was often closed with the analysis...
Words: 1049 - Pages: 5
...Modern World History Gabrielle Wilhelm September 12, 2011 Egyptian Religion Religion is defined by many people as a belief in a “greater power” as well as personal morals. Most religions usually include a system of values as well as various practices. Egyptian religion included their ancient gods, the mythology of the gods, and other parts of their religion. For example their religion explained and included creation, death and the afterlife, and the cults that worshiped the gods. In Egypt, the king or pharaoh played a very important part in their religion and what the gods expected of the people also. Egyptian religion consisted of many myths and rituals too. Religion was a very influential part of Ancient Egyptian culture and shaped their ancient civilization of the Nile greatly. Like most other cultures, the ancient Egyptians wanted to find the meaning for their existence, but there were also other influences on their religion, such as the need to justify kingship, along with many others. Egyptians have numerous Gods in there culture and they feel that the Gods walk among them, invisibly on Earth. Ra is the most central God of the Egyptian gods. Known as the sun god, Ra was the most important element of life in ancient Egypt and represented light, warmth, and growth. Ra embodies the Egyptian beliefs of order and truth, and he signifies the cycle of birth, life and death. Of all the ancient Egyptian Gods Anubis is frequently the one referred to as the gatekeeper...
Words: 1040 - Pages: 5
...Christianity and Religion of Ancient Egypt Is it possible that Christianity came from Ancient Egypt? Probably yes. There are several facts, which prove it. Although Egyptian temples were destroyed, manuscripts were burned and the statues of Gods were broken, Egyptian religion is still alive and the Gods rise repeatedly but in different forms. Regeneration There were a lot of solemn rites in Egypt due to death and resurrection of Osiris, for example: funerary ceremony where the main symbol of deceased was grain, planted in wet ground in clay jar .The appearance of plant meant revival with Osiris`s protection. The underground world in Egyptian culture was pledge of plants` regeneration through fat land containing moisture, it meant that those people whose bodies were buried into the ground, had an opportunity to regenerate, although in another form. The idea of dying and revival God was an essential discovery. Many nations took over the concept. Most historians are sure that The Bible stories about Christ`s life, death and resurrection are renewed version of Egyptian myth. Osiris, among all Gods, was more familiar and understandable for the nation: as a man and God, virtuous and suffered without any guilt and then awarded with eternity, in one time. U.Budge said:” The main reason why the Osiris cult existed was promise of timeless life for his followers.” Even after acceptance of Christianity Egyptians continued to mummify deceased people and combine attributes of their...
Words: 1479 - Pages: 6
...Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life. Egyptian religion was based on polytheism, which means the worship of many deities, except for during the reign of Akenaton. During the reign of Akenaton, more than 3,000 years of development, Egyptian religion underwent significant changes of emphasis and practice, but in all periods religion had a clear consistency in character and style. The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses. Some, such as Amun, Isis, Osiris, and Horus, were worshipped throughout the whole country, while others had only a local following. There were two essential foci of public religion: the king and the gods. Both are among the most characteristic features of Egyptian civilization. The king had a unique status between humanity and the gods, partook in the world of the gods, and constructed great, religiously motivated funerary monuments for his afterlife. The Egyptian "Book of the Dead" contains the major ideas and beliefs in the ancient Egyptian religion. Because their religion stressed an afterlife, Egyptians devoted much time and wealth to preparing for survival in the next world. Tombs were placed if possible in the desert. Vast resources were expended on creating prestigious burial places for absolute rulers or wealthy officials. Tombs contained elaborate grave goods (mostly plundered soon after deposition), representations of “daily life,” or less commonly of religious subjects, and some texts that were intended to help the deceased attain...
Words: 3472 - Pages: 14
...Chris Sinvil IHHIST 399-06 12-5-14 Dying gods In all ancient cultures myths were used to explain the phenomenon’s in the world before we truly knew why things happened the way they did. In this paper I will be comparing two fairly similar myths from different cultures. The first myth is the ancient Egyptian myth about Isis and Osiris. And the second myth is the Mesopotamian story of Inannas descent to the under world. First I will summarize both myths and then talk about what their purpose was. Then I will compare and contrast two too show just how similar they are. Firstly comes the myth of Isis and Osiris. As with much of the ancient Egyptian mythology, there are various versions of the story of Isis and Osiris, but basically it goes like this. Osiris was an earthly ruler, who was popular with the people who he ruled over. He was married to his sister, the beautiful Isis. His brother, Set, was very jealous of this popularity and title, so he plotted against Osiris. Osiris never realized Set’s true devious intentions but Isis had always had a sense that set was up to no good. Set's plans to be rid of his brother started when he secretly obtained his brothers measurements and had a magnificent casket made to fit. This casket was in the form of a human shaped box. Set then organized a large feast to which Osiris and a number of others were invited. At the peak of the festivities Set produced the casket and announced that it would be given to whomever it fitted. All...
Words: 1660 - Pages: 7
...Hand tools are also utilized by the Kypseli people throughout. Thought: Some common streams of thought for the people of Kypseli are that women are inherently evil (deceitful and dangerous) and that men are virtuous (gentile and courageous). Another shared thought is that the further away foreigners live, the less they know about them. In light of this belief, the people of Kypseli adhere to endogamy. Also the Kypseli people believe that child-birth and menstruation contaminates a woman and must go through purification ceremonies. Economics: Men own their own fields and work them. Men also hunt in the surrounding area Kypseli. There are also vineyards that produce wine, coffee houses and taverns that are reserved only for men. Religion: The main religion of the Kypseli people is Eastern-Orthodox. Priests perform infant baptisms for babies of both genders but only men have name day ceremonies. The church services and courtyards are divided by sexes. Women who are widows can transcend categories other women can’t and are considered to have control over evil spirits. They also are able to cure mystical ailments. Recreation: Men get ice cream together. Men also attend coffee shops, taverns, and smoke together in the church courtyard after the services. ...
Words: 596 - Pages: 3
...between ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia was the political organization in both civilizations. The tyrannical presence of ancient Egypt’s godly Pharaohs and the justified structure of Hammurabi’s code in ancient Mesopotamia were the distinct political differences. Political organization affected the ancient economy, that then affected social order, which in turn affected the kinds of religions practiced, which played a huge role in the development of these ancient societies. Egyptian Pharaohs took advantage of the geography surrounding them, and found the Nile River Valley to be rich in precious metals, including gold, copper, and iron. A large number of men took a chance and left their homes to go out and mine for these precious metals. While in Mesopotamia, Hammurabi established many laws which allowed for the stabilization of the economy. These laws established legitimate trade and commerce for the sharing and distributing of agriculture grown in the area. In both ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia their economies flourished with trade, this is because in order to establish a...
Words: 537 - Pages: 3
...Choosing to live in Ancient India Ancient India had more aspect that was more desirable compared with other societies like Mesopotamia. Below are the reasons that configured me to choose Ancient India as my domicile. Strong religious Background Ancient India had stable religious background as it contains more regions such as Buddhism and Jainism. Hinduism is a large religion in ancient India, its interactions with other religions incorporated different cultures (Prabhu, 2013). Therefore, changing how people relate and live in the society. Political stability During ancient India, there were many republics which put in practice democracy. The republics were headed by king called Raja, who was the leader of executive, legislature and judiciary. The King was assisted by official members elected from the empire (Woods, 2011). Official was to give advisers to the king. Centralization in administration of power...
Words: 520 - Pages: 3
...When examining the ancient cultures of Egypt and Mesopotamia, it is vital to observe the distinct similarities between their religious beliefs. Considering the geographic closeness of the two ancient civilizations, Mesopotamia occupying mainly modern day Iraq, centered around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and Egypt which is still located in the region recognized as modern Egypt, centralized around the Nile River, and the overlapping time frame both of these societies occupied, it is not unexpected that Mesopotamia and Egypt would possess similar ideologies. Despite the fact that the political structure of these civilizations differed between Mesopotamia’s unstable collection of city-states and Egypt’s unified monarchy, both societies were comprised a polytheistic philosophy where the Gods reflected a larger, universal system. Furthermore, both ancient civilizations relied on the flooding of their adjacent rivers for survival and these floods manifested within their religious ideologies. Although, the annual flooding of the Nile gave the Egyptians a sense of comfort and satiability surrounding death and was the direct rational of the Egyptians belief that rebirth followed death, the inconsistent flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates left the Mesopotamian people uncertain of the continuity of lives, evident in their harsh God’s and lack of interpretation of what the after-life consists of. Nevertheless, the similarities between the two culture’s religious beliefs are far too comparable...
Words: 897 - Pages: 4
...How Geography Effected Ancient Cultures Mesopotamia and Egypt in the ancient world were in modern day Iraq, and Egypt is still there today. Culture in theses societies, was loosely based on their natural surroundings. While geography in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt differed in stability and protection, they were similar in farming opportunities, with comparable sources of water giving them both the chance to excel in agriculture. The river flooding in Mesopotamia and Egypt differed in predictability; while rivers in Mesopotamia were sporadic in flood patterns, the Nile in Egypt was very predictable in its flooding. This caused the two civilizations to have opposing ideas of the power of their gods. In ancient Mesopotamia, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were incredibly unpredictable, and when they flooded they caused frenzies in surrounding areas. This unpredictability was reflected in their religion, as they felt the flooding of the rivers was a punishment for something they did. In thinking they could never please the gods, the people of Mesopotamia believed one only had the underworld to look forward to after death. They viewed nature as something out to get them. This belief led to more selfishness in people, and as a result, people were generally less trusting. However, in Egypt, the Nile River and its yearly predictable flooding led to the creation of calendars to plan agriculture around flooding; therefore, the flooding would help, not hurt them. The predictability...
Words: 1153 - Pages: 5
...The ancient Mesopotamians lived in a polytheistic environment, meaning they worshipped many different gods and goddesses. They believed that their gods heavily influenced everything that happened within their lives. The meaning of life back then was to actually live in harmony or become one with the gods. In ancient Mesopotamia, each city had their own god or goddess. At the center, a large temple stood which was dedicated to that certain god or goddess. It is said that they looked like steep pyramids with a flat top. To the sides, there would be small shrines that were dedicated to the other gods. It started out with the Sumerians which, in time, heavily influenced the Babylonian and Assyrian religion. In an ancient Mesopotamian myth, called Enuma Elish, it is said that life began after much confrontation between the elder and younger gods. Before creation began, the salt and fresh water was mixed together. These waters separated the...
Words: 1150 - Pages: 5
