04 Sumerian Mythology: Religion
Description
This article is from the Sumerian Mythology FAQ, by Christopher Siren cbsiren@cisunix.unh.edu with numerous contributions by others.
04 Sumerian Mythology: Religion
The religion of the ancient Sumerians has left its mark on the
entire middle east. Not only are its temples and ziggurats scattered
about the region, but the literature, cosmogony and rituals influenced
their neighbors to such an extent that we can see echoes of Sumer in
the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition today. From these ancient
temples, and to a greater extent, through cuneiform writings of
hymns, myths, lamentations, and incantations, archaeologists and
mythographers afford the modern reader a glimpse into the religious
world of the Sumerians.
Each city housed a temple that was the seat of a major god in the
Sumerian pantheon, as the gods controlled the powerful forces which often
dictated a human's fate. The city leaders had a duty to please the
town's patron deity, not only for the good will of that god or goddess,
but also for the good will of the other deities in the council of
gods. The priesthood initially held this role, and even after secular
kings ascended to power, the clergy still held great authority through
the interpretation of omens and dreams. Many of the secular kings claimed
divine right; Sargon of Agade, for example claimed to have been chosen by
Ishtar/Inanna. (Crawford 1991: 21-24)
The rectangular central shrine of the temple, known as a 'cella,' had
a brick altar or offering table in front of a statue of the temple's
deity. The cella was lined on its long ends by many rooms for priests
and priestesses. These mud-brick buildings were decorated with cone
geometrical mosaics, and the occasional fresco with human and animal
figures. These temple complexes eventually evolved into towering
ziggurats. (Wolkstein & Kramer 1983: 119)
The temple was staffed by priests, priestesses, musicians, singers,
castrates and hierodules. Various public rituals, food sacrifices, and
libations took place there on a daily basis. There were monthly feasts
and annual, New Year celebrations. During the later, the king would be
married to Inanna as the resurrected fertility god Dumuzi, whose exploits
are dealt with below.
When it came to more private matters, a Sumerian remained
devout. Although the gods preferred justice and mercy, they had also
created evil and misfortune. A Sumerian had little that he could do
about it. Judging from Lamentation records, the best one could do in
times of duress would be to "plead, lament and wail, tearfully confessing
his sins and failings." Their family god or city god might intervene on
their behalf, but that would not necessarily happen. After all, man was
created as a broken, labor saving, tool for the use of the gods and at
the end of everyone's life, lay the underworld, a generally dreary
place. (Wolkstein & Kramer 1983: pp.123-124)
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