Knowra Sumerian religion Sumerian religion Sumerian religion was the polytheistic system of beliefs and ritual practices in ancient Sumer. It centered on city gods, temple institutions, offerings, and myths about divine powers.
Anu : Anu was the Mesopotamian sky god and a senior deity in the pantheon. His authority illustrates the rank and cosmic scope assigned to Sumerian gods.
Mesopotamian temple : A Mesopotamian temple was a sacred institution and building dedicated to a deity and supported by community resources. Temples housed divine images and coordinated worship and economic activity.
Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta : Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta is a Sumerian epic poem about rivalry, diplomacy, and the goddess Inanna. Its plot shows a city ruler seeking Inanna’s favor in political competition.
Ubaid period : The Ubaid period was a prehistoric phase of southern Mesopotamian society, preceding the rise of Sumerian cities. Its settlement and temple history provides background to later urban religion.
Akkadian religion : Akkadian religion was the polytheistic tradition of Akkadian-speaking peoples in ancient Mesopotamia. Akkadian-speaking communities shared many gods with Sumer but used different names and traditions.
Enlil : Enlil was a major Mesopotamian god associated with wind, authority, and the city of Nippur. Nippur’s chief deity held broad authority beyond a single city’s local cult.
Sumerian priesthood : The Sumerian priesthood comprised specialists who performed rites and administered temple service. Priests carried out the recurring duties that sustained a deity’s cult.
The Descent of Inanna to the Underworld : The Descent of Inanna to the Underworld is a Sumerian myth in which Inanna enters the realm of the dead and returns. The myth explores divine power, death, and the limits imposed on even a goddess.
Early Dynastic period : The Early Dynastic period was an era of city-states in southern Mesopotamia, roughly the third millennium BCE. Written records from this era illuminate established Sumerian cults and temple institutions.
Ancient Egyptian religion : Ancient Egyptian religion was the changing system of beliefs and rites centered on Egyptian gods, temples, and the afterlife. Its distinct institutions and afterlife traditions offer a comparison with Sumerian worship.
Show all 26