Sumerian Religion: Did you mean...?

A map illustrating the emergence of the Sumerian civilization around 6000 BCE from a collection of city-states on the floodplains of southern Mesopotamia, along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in the area that was to later become the Akkadian...

Government and religion in ancient Egypt were fully integrated beginning with the First Dynasty of Egypt (c. 3150 to c. 2890 BCE). The king was understood as a representative of a god, the specific deity sometimes changing with different...

Maya religion and culture is among the most advanced and sophisticated of the Pre-Colombian Americas as evidenced by the ruins of their great cities and what remains of their writings after most were burned by the Spanish in 1562. The Maya...

This hymn to the goddess Ishtar is written in Sumerian; after every line in Sumerian, the text is translated in Akkadian. Such translations have been invaluable to modern scholars. They reflect how the Sumerian language had become difficult...

Carved stone cuneiform tablets in Sumerian. Left: Temple of Ningirsu, Girsu. Right: Temple of Nindara, Ur. Dating around 2141-2122 BCE.

It was a Sumerian tradition to deposit or bury objects bearing inscriptions within temples and important public buildings. These recorded the names of the persons who were responsible for the building and also ensured divine protection. The...

This fragment of a stone inlay was found in Kish. It depicts an incised design of a man wearing the typical Sumerian long robe, carrying a pole on his shoulder. This is probably from a battle scene. The overall depiction of this man is very...

Ancient Mesopotamian government was based on the understanding that human beings were created to help and serve the gods. The high priest, king, assembly of elders, governors, and any other officials were recognized as stewards chosen by...

Limestone statue of a Sumerian male in a gesture of prayer. He wears the classical Sumerian flounced garment. The head/neck, right upper limb, and both feet are lost. Front view. From the Small Shrine at Khafajah (also Khafaje; ancient Tutub...

Limestone statue of a Sumerian male in a gesture of prayer. He wears the classical Sumerian flounced garment. The head/neck, right upper limb, and both feet are lost. Back view. From the Small Shrine at Khafajah (also Khafaje; ancient Tutub...