Gillette CC12 - Mesopotamia

Religion & Literature in MesopotamiaAncient Mesopotamian believed their gods destroyed humans because they were ____________ _______________!Mesopotamia was Polytheistic

– over _____________ gods and demigods Kingship created by gods

– king’s power was ________ ordained

Gods lived on the distant mountaintops Each city was ruled by a different god Kings and priests acted as______________

– they told the people what the god wanted them to do

– by examining the liver or lungs of a slain sheep

Some of the Mesopotamian PantheonMarduk Enki Enil Ishtar

God of God of God of Goddess of

ZigguratsMade of layers of ______ bricks in the shape of a pyramid (on platforms due to constant flooding)Temple on top god’s home: beautifully decorated - a room for offerings of food and goodsTemples evolved to ______________ (a stack of 1-7 platforms decreasing in size from bottom to top)Famous ziggurat was Tower of _______________ (over 100m above ground and 91m base)