Mesopotamia
MESOPOTAMIA
EDUCATION
Sumerians trained boys in art. The students were mostly sons from upper-class families – sons of priests, temple and palace officials, military officers, sea captains and scribes.
Girls and those who can’t afford the fees were not enrolled.
They used clay tablets to write and practice their cuneiform writing.
Clay tablets became their books.
Those who learned the art were assigned to work as scribes in the temples, courts, or as merchants.
RELIGION
Sumerians worshipped the elements of nature like the wind and water.
They believed that they were created by their gods to be servants.
They should worship, pray and offer sacrifice to their gods and goddesses.
Temples and shrines for offertory where built for religious activities.
They offered food, wine, milk, and meat.
They have festivities like special feasts during new moon, 7th, 5th and last day of the month. The most important day for them is the New Year.
Prayers and rituals were written in clay tablets.
Displeasing the gods and goddesses can cause floods, famines and sandstorms.
They believe that the dead go to the underworld. COSMOLOGY AND MYTHOLOGY Apsû (Abzu) – land in southeast Africa where the first humans were created. An – god of heavens/sky Ki – goddess of the Earth Enlil – leader god of Sumerian Pantheon Nanna – son of Enlil and Ninlil; god of the moon Inanna- daughter of Nanna and Ningal; goddess of war and fertility Utu – son of Nanna and Ningal; god of the sun
50 "great gods" or Annunaki
Picture:
List of herders and cows in Innana’s fields. (University of Pennsylvania)
ARTS
Pictures:
Bronze head of Sharru-Kin (Sargon) from Nineveh – wig helmet of rulers
Sargon united the Sumerian states. Gold head of a bull as a decoration of the harp (University Museum, Philadelphia)
Statues made of limestones, shells and gypsum in Temple of Abu.
Ziggurat of Ur
Ziggurat means high. Priests climbed this to
EDUCATION
Sumerians trained boys in art. The students were mostly sons from upper-class families – sons of priests, temple and palace officials, military officers, sea captains and scribes.
Girls and those who can’t afford the fees were not enrolled.
They used clay tablets to write and practice their cuneiform writing.
Clay tablets became their books.
Those who learned the art were assigned to work as scribes in the temples, courts, or as merchants.
RELIGION
Sumerians worshipped the elements of nature like the wind and water.
They believed that they were created by their gods to be servants.
They should worship, pray and offer sacrifice to their gods and goddesses.
Temples and shrines for offertory where built for religious activities.
They offered food, wine, milk, and meat.
They have festivities like special feasts during new moon, 7th, 5th and last day of the month. The most important day for them is the New Year.
Prayers and rituals were written in clay tablets.
Displeasing the gods and goddesses can cause floods, famines and sandstorms.
They believe that the dead go to the underworld. COSMOLOGY AND MYTHOLOGY Apsû (Abzu) – land in southeast Africa where the first humans were created. An – god of heavens/sky Ki – goddess of the Earth Enlil – leader god of Sumerian Pantheon Nanna – son of Enlil and Ninlil; god of the moon Inanna- daughter of Nanna and Ningal; goddess of war and fertility Utu – son of Nanna and Ningal; god of the sun
50 "great gods" or Annunaki
Picture:
List of herders and cows in Innana’s fields. (University of Pennsylvania)
ARTS
Pictures:
Bronze head of Sharru-Kin (Sargon) from Nineveh – wig helmet of rulers
Sargon united the Sumerian states. Gold head of a bull as a decoration of the harp (University Museum, Philadelphia)
Statues made of limestones, shells and gypsum in Temple of Abu.
Ziggurat of Ur
Ziggurat means high. Priests climbed this to