ANCIENT MESOPOTHAN YAYA MIA

MAIN STATES OF ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Sumerian city states (III millennium BC) Akkadian kingdom (XXIV–XXII centuries BC) Sumerian-Akkadian kingdom (XXII–XX centuries BC) Old Babylonian kingdom ( XIX–XVI centuries BC)

SUMERIAN CITIES - STATES At the turn of IV– III thousand. BC In the southern part of Mesopotamia, separate city-states arise. They resembled Egyptian nomes; the population of the cities did not exceed several tens of thousands of people.

The people who founded these cities were called Sumerians. They came from a region connected to the Persian Gulf. Sumerian myths claimed that their ancestral home was the island of Delmun (today it is Bahrain).

Most of the townspeople were engaged in farming in the suburban fields, but there were already entire neighborhoods of artisans - potters and blacksmiths. The ruler of the city was en - the high priest of the main city temple, or the leader of the main city militia - lugal. The Sumerians invented cuneiform writing, the wheel, the plow, the sickle and the potter's wheel. We learned how to brew beer, make bricks, build irrigation canals and keep records of government revenues.

There are hypotheses that the Sumerians had connections with the Ancient Indian civilization, which existed a little later. However, there are many differences in the culture of the Sumerians and the inhabitants of the Indus civilization. A feature of the Sumerians was the use of cylinder seals. Such seals were carved from stone and rolled over damp clay, leaving a continuous mark that was repeated all the time. Sumerian cylinder seal

The Sumerians are considered the creators of the lunar calendar. They also created their own timekeeping system. The length of the year in the legendary calendar of Mesopotamia, which consisted of 12 “moons” or “months” lasting 29.5 days each, was only 29.5x12 equal to 354 days, i.e. was significantly shorter than the solar one. The Sumerian priests did not yet know the true length of the year. The obvious discrepancy between the natural and calendar cycles required the introduction of an appropriate correction. It was carried out sporadically by introducing the 13th month into the chronograph and was carried out taking into account the spring flood of rivers associated with the solar cycle in nature.

Cities such as Ur, Uruk, Lagash, Umma, Nippur, Isin have now been studied by scientists. These cities have few archaeological sites. The Sumerians erected stepped altars, which were called ziggurat - a structure typical of the Mesopotamian culture in the form of a stepped pyramid, which had a sacred purpose (sacrifices were made to the gods on its top).

The cities stood on the banks of canals along which boats sailed. All temples, palaces, and houses were built from clay bricks. There was little wood in Mesopotamia and it had to be obtained in distant mountains. Of interest is the city of Uruk, in which in the XXVII–XXVI centuries. BC King Gilgamesh reigned. It is to him that the oldest literary monument that has come down to us is dedicated - the epic of Gilgamesh.

The Epic of Gilmesh is written on 12 clay tablets. As the plot develops, Guilmesh's image changes. The fairy-tale hero-hero, boasting of his strength, turns into a man who has learned the tragic brevity of life. The powerful spirit of Guilmesh rebels against the recognition of the inevitability of death; only at the end of his wanderings does the hero begin to understand that immortality can bring him eternal glory to his name.

AKKADIAN KINGDOM At the end of the 24th century BC. The territory of the Sumerians was conquered by the Amish state of Akkad.

The Akkadian king Sargon conquered numerous city-states of the Sumerians and incorporated them into his unified empire.

The Sumerians and Akkadians were different ethnic groups, they had different norms and customs. It was necessary to coordinate them. It was at this time in Mesopotamia that the idea of ​​​​creating unified general norms that all residents of this state could become familiar with appeared. Thus, the most ancient Akkadian legislation arose.

However, Sargon's state did not last long and again fell apart into a number of city-states, to which were added the city of Akkad and several similar settlements.

The independent rulers of this region were to exercise their legitimate authority. Images of such rulers have been preserved, for example, the image of the Lagash king Gudea. The power of Gudea is evidenced by reports that 60 sars (216 thousand) of full-fledged citizens obeyed him (obviously, including residents of neighboring dependent cities), against 10 sars (36 thousand) under Uruinimgin. Gudea merged all the temple farms of individual gods into one national one

A clear expression of Gudea's centralizing aspirations was his temple-building policy. For this purpose, he introduced new taxes on the entire population and new duties: sometimes even women were involved in construction work. Gudea ruled for about 26 years and was dependent on priests and oracles; it was a real theocracy. During Gudea's reign, Sumerian literature and art flourished. 16 diorite statues of Gudea, clay cylinders with inscriptions, etc. have survived.

Around 2100 BC King Ur-Nammu ruled in the city of Ur. His reign did not take so long (about 15 years); it was under him that the first laws that came down to us were created, which were systemic and not fragmentary in nature - the laws of Ur-Fragment of the Ur-Nammu stele

The dynasty to which he belonged was called the III Dynasty of Ur, and it managed to unite the entire country under its leadership. But the rise of Ur was temporary, and already in the 20th century a gradual process of the rise of another state began - Babylon (the gate of God).

The aggressive policy of the rulers of Babylon played a huge role. During the time of King Hammurabi (1792–1750 BC), Babylon united most of Ancient Mesopotamia under its rule. It was under this king that the most famous eastern laws were adopted, the surviving Stele with the laws of King Hammurabi

In 1595 BC. Babylon was captured by the Hittite tribes. A long and difficult period of decline of Ancient Mesopotamia begins.

Assyria. Assyria played a major role in the process of unification of Mesopotamia. In the second half of the 8th century BC. The Assyrians managed to create a centralized state - the first state of the imperial

Thanks to innovations in technology, it was possible to feed a large army and bureaucracy. Large-scale conquests became possible.

Let's compare early and late antiquity. Economic relations in early antiquity are characterized by a large role for the community and collective use of land. In the era of late antiquity, the collapse of communal land ownership, the spread of private ownership of land (with the consent of the state), the decline in the role of the community and the growth of individualism mainly occur.

Forms of the state In early antiquity, a new state (city-state) and a territorial kingdom were characteristic. In the era of late antiquity, an empire was established - a large, relatively centralized state pursuing an active foreign policy.

Religious differences Early antiquity is a period of polytheism (polytheism), decentralized tribal religions. Late antiquity is a period of monotheism (monotheism), the ethical nature of religion, as well as the emergence of world religions.

Character X of slavery Early antiquity was characterized by patriarchal slavery (slave is a person), often the temporary nature of slavery. In the era of late antiquity, classical slavery dominated (a slave is a thing).

Assyria reaches its cultural peak during the reign of King Ashurbanipal (669–627 BC). Under him, a new Assyrian capital was built - the city of Nineveh. In the last years of Ashurbanipal's reign, the gradual decline of the Assyrian state began. After a union of numerous cities that were subordinate to Assyria was created, the Assyrian army began to suffer defeats. In 612, Nineveh was taken, and the final Ashurbanip al

Slide 2

One of the oldest states

Mesopotamia (existed for about 25 centuries, from the time of the creation of writing to the conquest of Babylon by the Persians in 539 BC) is a historical and geographical region in the Middle East, located in the valley of two great rivers - the Tigris and Euphrates. Modern states, including the lands of Mesopotamia - Iraq, Syria, Türkiye. In the scientific literature there are alternative designations for the region - Mesopotamia and Mesopotamia, which have different meanings. Mesopotamia is the birthplace of one of the ancient civilizations in the history of mankind - Ancient Mesopotamia.

Slide 3

Etymology

“Mesopotamia” is a toponym of ancient Greek origin, translated as “country/land between two rivers”, “interfluve”. The term arose when Alexander the Great created a satrapy with that name as part of his state. The new administrative-territorial unit was formed from the lands of the Achaemenid satrapies, primarily Babylonia and, probably, Zarechye. Lower Mesopotamia in the most ancient written sources was called “Sumer and Akkad”; it was divided into two parts: Sumer proper - in the lower reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates and Akkad - upstream. Subsequently, the name “Babylonia” spread to the region of Akkad and part of Sumer; another part of Sumer and new lands formed as a result of the retreat of the waters of the Persian Gulf began to be referred to as “Primorye”, and from the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. e. - Chaldea; Since late antiquity, the name “Babylonia” became a general designation for these lands. In the Middle Ages, the Arabic name for Lower Mesopotamia, “Iraq,” was established.

Slide 4

Geography

Mesopotamia is bounded in the north by the Armenian Plateau, in the south by the Persian Gulf, in the west by the Arabian Platform, and in the east by the foothills of the Zagros Mountains. Sometimes Greater Mesopotamia is distinguished, covering the entire modern basin of the Tigris, Euphrates and Karun. Within the region there are two regions - Northern and Southern Mesopotamia; the conditional border between them runs along the line of the cities of Hit - Samarra. Mesopotamia is a rocky, sandy plain, sloping to the south. The main rivers are the Euphrates, Tigris and their tributaries - Khabur and Balikh, Greater and Lesser Zab, Diyala. The main products are oil and ink nuts. Olives were cultivated, and the date palm was common in some places. Animals include lions, gazelles, and ostriches. Euphrates River Ruins on the Tigris River

Slide 5

Prehistoric cultures.

Mesopotamia demonstrates not only how and why the historical period itself arises, but also what happened in the critical period that preceded it. Man discovered a direct connection between sowing and harvesting ca. 12 thousand years ago. The Middle East is littered with traces of early agricultural settlements. One of the oldest villages discovered in the foothills of Kurdistan. The Jarmo settlement east of Kirkuk is an example of the application of primitive farming methods. The next stage is presented in Hassoun near Mosul architectural structures and pottery. The Hassunan stage was replaced by the rapidly developing Halaf stage, which received its name from the settlement on Kabur, one of the largest tributaries of the Euphrates. Settlement of Jarmo

Slide 6

Construction technology has also taken a step forward. Figures of people and animals were made from clay and stone. People wore not only beads and pendants, but also stamp seals. The Halaf culture is of particular interest due to the vast territory over which it was distributed - from Lake Van and northern Syria to the central part of Mesopotamia, the environs of modern Kirkuk. Towards the end of the Khalaf stage, probably from the east, carriers of another culture appeared, which over time spread across the western part of Asia from the interior of Iran to the Mediterranean coast. This culture is Obeid (Ubeid), got its name from a small hill in Lower Mesopotamia near the ancient city of Ur. This period saw significant changes in many areas, especially in architecture, as evidenced by the buildings at Eridu in southern Mesopotamia and at Tepe Gavre in the north. From that time on, the south became the center of the development of metallurgy, the emergence and development of cylinder seals, the emergence of markets and the creation of writing. ALABASTER FIGURINE OF A WOMAN from the Temple of Ishtar.

Slide 7

The traditional vocabulary of historical Mesopotamia in terms of geographical names and cultural terms was formed on the basis various languages. Many toponyms have survived to this day. Among them are the names of the Tigris and Euphrates and most ancient cities. The words "carpenter" and "chair", used in the Sumerian and Akkadian languages, still function in Semitic languages ​​to this day. The names of some plants - cassia, caraway, crocus, hyssop, myrtle, spikenard, saffron and others - go back to the prehistoric stage and demonstrate striking cultural continuity.

Slide 8

The era of Sumerian dominance.

During the first three quarters of the 3rd millennium BC. The South occupied a leading place in the history of Mesopotamia. In the geologically youngest part of the valley, on the coast of the Persian Gulf and in adjacent areas, the Sumerians dominated, and upstream, in later Akkad, the Semites predominated, although traces of earlier settlers are also found here. The main cities of Sumer were Eridu, Ur, Uruk, Lagash, Umma and Nippur. The city of Kish became the center of Akkad. The struggle for dominance took the form of rivalry between Kish and other Sumerian cities. Uruk's decisive victory over Kish, a feat attributed to the semi-legendary ruler Gilgamesh, marks the establishment of the Sumerians as a major political force and a decisive cultural factor in the region. Later the center of power moved to Ur, Lagash and other places. During this period, called the Early Dynastic, the main elements of the Mesopotamian civilization were formed. Sumerians

Slide 9

Dynasty of Akkad.

Although Kish had previously submitted to the expansion of Sumerian culture, his political resistance put an end to the Sumerian dominance in the country. The ethnic core of the opposition was made up of local Semites under the leadership of Sargon (c. 2300 BC), whose throne name, Sharrukin, meant “legitimate king” in Akkadian. From then on, the whole country began to be called Akkad, and the language of the winners was called Akkadian. Having consolidated their power over Sumer and Akkad, the new rulers turned to neighboring regions. Elam, Ashur, Nineveh, and even areas in neighboring Syria and Eastern Anatolia were subjugated. The old system of a confederation of independent states gave way to an empire with a system of central authority. With the armies of Sargon and his famous grandson Naram-Suen, cuneiform, the Akkadian language and other elements of the Sumerian-Akkadian civilization spread.

Slide 10

The role of the Amorites.

The Akkadian Empire ceased to exist by the end of the 3rd millennium BC, becoming a victim of unbridled expansion and invasions of barbarians from the north and west. Under Gudea of ​​Lagash and the rulers of the Third Dynasty of Ur, a renaissance era began. But the attempt to restore Sumer's former greatness was doomed to failure. Meanwhile, new groups appeared on the horizon, which soon mixed with the local population to create Babylonia in place of Sumer and Akkad, and in the north - a new public education, Assyria. These widespread newcomers are known as Amorites. Wherever the Amorites settled, they became devoted followers and defenders of local traditions. After the Elamites put an end to the Third Dynasty of Ur (20th century BC). They were able to establish their own dynasty in central Akkad, with its capital in the previously little-known city of Babylon. The first dynasty of Babylon, defined with good reason as the Amorites, ruled for exactly three hundred years, from the 19th to the 16th centuries. BC The sixth king was the famous Hammurabi, who gradually gained control over the entire territory of Mesopotamia. Amorites

Slide 11

Economy.

The economy of Mesopotamia was determined natural conditions region. The fertile soils of the valley produced rich harvests. The south specialized in date palm cultivation. The extensive pastures of the nearby mountains made it possible to support large herds of sheep and goats. On the other hand, the country experienced a shortage of stone, metal, wood, raw materials for the production of dyes and other vital necessary materials. The excess of some goods and the shortage of others led to the development of trade relations.

Slide 12

Religion.

The religion of Mesopotamia in all its main aspects was created by the Sumerians. Over time, the Akkadian names of the gods began to replace the Sumerian ones. Local gods could also lead the pantheon of a particular region, as happened with Marduk in Babylon or Ashur in the Assyrian capital. But the religious system as a whole, the view of the world and the changes taking place in it were not much different from the original ideas of the Sumerians. None of the Mesopotamian deities were the exclusive source of power, none had supreme power. The full power belonged to the assembly of gods, which, according to tradition, elected a leader and approved all important decisions. At the same time, there was always the possibility that events would take a turn better side, if a person behaves correctly. The temple tower (ziggurat) was the place where the celestials stayed. It symbolized the human desire to establish a connection between heaven and earth. As a rule, the inhabitants of Mesopotamia relied little on the favor of the gods. They tried to appease them by performing increasingly complex rituals. Offering gifts to the gods

Slide 13

Writing

The supreme authority of law was a characteristic feature of the Mesopotamian historical period, but the effectiveness of legislation was associated with the use of written evidence and documents. There is reason to believe that the invention of writing by the ancient Sumerians was primarily driven by concern for private and communal rights. Already the earliest texts known to us testify to the need to record everything, be it objects needed for temple exchange or gifts intended for the deity. Such documents were certified by a cylinder seal. The most ancient writing was pictographic, and its signs depicted objects of the surrounding world - animals, plants, etc. The signs formed groups, each of which, consisting, for example, of images of animals, plants or objects, was composed in a certain sequence. Over time, the lists acquired the character of a kind of reference books on zoology, botany, mineralogy, etc.

Slide 14

Literature.

The most famous poetic work is the Babylonian epic about the creation of the world. But the oldest work, the tale of Gilgamesh, seems much more attractive. The characters of the world of animals and plants that appeared in fables were very loved by the people, just like proverbs. Sometimes a philosophical note creeps into literature, especially in works devoted to the theme of innocent suffering, but the attention of the authors is focused not so much on suffering as on the miracle of liberation from it. From the Epic of Gilgemash

Slide 15

Conclusion

Mesopotamia brought many inventions to the world. The most important thing is writing. The Sumerians also introduced the sexagesimal number system into people's lives, which we still use today. The Sumerians gave us the wheel, agriculture, cities, bureaucracy, astrology, bread, beer. This list goes on and on. But many of their inventions were forgotten, and everything had to be reinvented after hundreds and even thousands of years. In 539 BC, Babylon was conquered by the Persians, after the Persians came the Greeks, and the Romans, and many others. But, if you believe the facts, it was the peoples of Mesopotamia who had the greatest influence on the formation of our world. The world we live in today.

View all slides

The religion of Mesopotamia in all its main aspects was created by the Sumerians. Over time, the Akkadian names of the gods began to replace the Sumerian ones. Local gods could also lead the pantheon of a particular region, as happened with Marduk in Babylon or Ashur in the Assyrian capital. But the religious system as a whole, the view of the world and the changes taking place in it were not much different from the original ideas of the Sumerians. None of the Mesopotamian deities were the exclusive source of power, none had supreme power. The full power belonged to the assembly of gods, which, according to tradition, elected a leader and approved all important decisions. At the same time, there was always the possibility that events would turn for the better if a person behaved correctly. The temple tower (ziggurat) was the place where the celestials stayed. It symbolized the human desire to establish a connection between heaven and earth. As a rule, the inhabitants of Mesopotamia relied little on the favor of the gods. They tried to appease them by performing increasingly complex rituals.

Offering gifts to the gods

1 of 13

Presentation on the topic: MESOPOTAMIA

Slide no. 1

Slide description:

Slide no. 2

Slide description:

The history of the emergence of Mesopotamia - also Dvore whose - the region in the middle and lower reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (in Western Asia) from the Persian Gulf in the south to Armenia in the north, on the territory of modern Iraq, one of the cradles of Eurasian civilization. At the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC. e. Several small city-states arose on the territory of southern Mesopotamia, including Sumerian cities. They were located on natural hills and surrounded by walls. Approximately 40-50 thousand people lived in each of them.

Slide no. 3

Slide description:

Periodization Sumerian-Akkadian civilization (5900-2000 BC): -Ubaidian period - 5900-4000. BC e. -Uruk period - 4300-3000. BC e. -Early Sumerian period - 3000-2350. BC e. -Akkadian period - 2350-2150. BC e. -Neo-Sumerian period - 2150-2000. BC e. Babylonian civilization (Ancient Babylonian kingdom 1894-1595 BC) Assyro-Babylonian civilization (XV century - 300 BC) - Middle Assyrian kingdom - XV-XI centuries. BC e. -New Babylonian kingdom - VII-VI centuries. BC e.

Slide no. 4

Slide description:

Language In the northern part of Mesopotamia, starting from the first half of the 3rd millennium BC. e., lived the Semites. The language of the Semitic tribes who settled in Mesopotamia was called Akkadian. In southern Mesopotamia, the Semites spoke Babylonian, and to the north, in the middle Tigris Valley, they spoke the Assyrian dialect of Akkadian. For several centuries, the Semites lived next to the Sumerians, but then began to move south and by the end of the 3rd millennium BC. e. occupied all of southern Mesopotamia. As a result, the Akkadian language gradually replaced Sumerian. However, the latter remained official language State Chancellery back in the 21st century. BC e., although in everyday life it was increasingly replaced by Akkadian. Since ancient times, Hurrian tribes lived in the north of Mesopotamia. In the 2nd millennium BC. e. The Hurrians adopted the Akkadian cuneiform script, which they wrote in Hurrian and Akkadian. By the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. e. The Arameans almost completely assimilated the Hurrian and Amorite populations of Syria and northern Mesopotamia.

Slide no. 5

Slide description:

Writing In the culture of ancient Mesopotamia, writing has a special place: cuneiform, invented by the Sumerians. Written characters were applied with a pointed stick onto wet clay tiles, or tablets. A clay tablet, covered with cuneiform symbols, could serve as the same symbol of Mesopotamia as the pyramids are for Egypt. It is believed that in early pictographic writing there were over one and a half thousand symbols-drawings. Each sign meant a word or several words. The most ancient written messages were a kind of puzzles, clearly understandable only to the compilers and those present during the recording. However, for a long time no one attempted to decipher them, until in 1802 the German teacher Georg Grotefeld suggested that the tables contained Persian text. In total, he was able to identify ten cuneiform characters. A start has been made.

Slide no. 6

Slide description:

Religion In the ideological life of Ancient Mesopotamia, the dominant role belonged to religion. Each Sumerian city revered its patron god. In addition, there were gods who were worshiped throughout Sumer, although each of them had their own special places of worship, usually where their cult arose. In addition to deities, the inhabitants of Mesopotamia also revered numerous demons of good and sought to appease the demons of evil, who were considered the cause of various diseases and death. They also tried to save themselves against evil spirits with the help of spells and special amulets. All these demons were depicted as half-human, half-animal.

Slide no. 7

Slide description:

Slide no. 8

Slide description:

Religious buildings The first powerful buildings of Sumer at the end of 4 thousand BC. e. there were the so-called “White Temple” and “Red Building” in Uruk. Rectangular in plan, devoid of windows, with walls dissected in the White Temple by vertical narrow niches, and in the Red Building by powerful semi-columns, these structures clearly stood out on the top of the bulk mountain. They had an open courtyard, a sanctuary in the depths of which a statue of a revered deity was placed. The White Temple got its name from the whitewashed walls. The Red building was decorated with a variety of geometric patterns made of fired clay cone-shaped zigatti nails, the caps of which were painted red, white and black. Apparently, the most ancient stepped towers - ziggurats, which arose in Sumer in the 3rd millennium BC, were similar to the mountains from which the gods appeared to people. e. They consisted of several sites. The upper platform was crowned with a small sanctuary - “the dwelling of God.” Usually built at the temple of a revered deity, these towers subsequently turned into the main temples and centers of science for many millennia. The area of ​​the huge truncated trapezoid occupies 65 x 43 meters, and the height of the base of the tower is 20 meters, i.e. equal to a modern seven-story building.

Slide no. 9

Slide description:

Art In ancient Mesopotamia, sculpture and arts and crafts became widespread. Sumerian art, ancient people Earth, influenced the entire culture of the Ancient East. Ceramics. A cruciform shape is formed by 4 naked female figures with flying hair - a swastika (exists from 6 thousand BC). Symbolizes: the sun, stars, infinity, forming a Maltese cross. Chess fields - mountains. The architectural features of Mesopotamia are largely explained by natural conditions. There was no forest or stone in this area, so the main building material became raw brick. Even temples and palaces were built from adobe. Sometimes buildings were faced with baked bricks and finished with imported stone and wood.

Slide no. 10

Slide description:

On the plain rise mighty walls with hundreds of towers, covered with green and blue tiles. In the center of the capital stands the tallest structure between the Euphrates and the Tigris - the legendary Tower of Babel. And this landscape is reflected in the lake, which protected the already impregnable walls from attack. The water system made it possible, in case of danger, to flood the plain around Babylon. But even more than the fortress walls, Koldewey was struck by another discovery - the “Road of Death”, or “The Road for the Processions of the God Marduk”. The road went from the banks of the Euphrates and the Great Gate to the main temple of Babylon - Esagile (a sanctuary with high tower), dedicated to the god Marduk. This 24-meter wide road was level and led first to the gate of the goddess Ishtar, and from there along royal palace and a ziggurat - to the sanctuary of the god Marduk. The space between the stone slabs and matte paving was filled with black asphalt. On the underside of each slab was engraved in cuneiform: “I, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, son of Nabopolassar, king of Babylon. I paved the Babylonian pilgrim road for the procession of the great lord Marduk with stone slabs... O Marduk! O great lord! Grant eternal life!`. On the plain rise mighty walls with hundreds of towers, covered with green and blue tiles. In the center of the capital stands the tallest structure between the Euphrates and the Tigris - the legendary Tower of Babel. And this landscape is reflected in the lake, which protected the already impregnable walls from attack. The water system made it possible, in case of danger, to flood the plain around Babylon. But even more than the fortress walls, Koldewey was struck by another discovery - the “Road of Death”, or “The Road for the Processions of the God Marduk”. The road went from the banks of the Euphrates and the Great Gate to the main temple of Babylon - Esagila (a sanctuary with a high tower), dedicated to the god Marduk. This 24-meter-wide road was flat and led first to the gate of the goddess Ishtar, and from there along the royal palace and ziggurat to the sanctuary of the god Marduk. The space between the stone slabs and matte paving was filled with black asphalt. On the underside of each slab was engraved in cuneiform: “I, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, son of Nabopolassar, king of Babylon. I paved the Babylonian pilgrim road for the procession of the great lord Marduk with stone slabs... O Marduk! O great lord! Grant eternal life!`.

Slide no. 11

Slide description:

Slide no. 12

Slide description:

Literature The most outstanding monument of Sumerian-Babylonian literature, according to modern researchers, is the Akkadian "Epic of Gilgamesh", which tells about the search for immortality and raises the question of the meaning human existence. A whole cycle of Sumerian poems about Gilgamesh has been found. Of great interest are the Old Babylonian "Poem of Atrahasis", which tells about the creation of man and global flood, and the cult cosmogonic epic "Enuma elish" ("When above..."). The motif of a man flying on an eagle, first encountered in the Akkadian “Poem of Etana,” is also widespread in world folklore. The Sumerian "Teachings of Shuruppak" (mid-3rd millennium BC) includes a number of proverbs and maxims

Slide no. 13

Slide description:

Achievements Many sources indicate high astronomical and mathematical achievements the Sumerians, their building art (it was the Sumerians who built the world's first step pyramid). They are the authors of the most ancient calendar, recipe book, and library catalogue. The Babylonians introduced the positional number system, a precise system for measuring time, into world culture; they were the first to divide an hour into 60 minutes, and a minute into 60 seconds, and learned to measure area geometric shapes, distinguish stars from planets and dedicated each day of the seven-day week they themselves invented to a separate deity (traces of this tradition are preserved in the names of the days of the week in Romance languages). The Babylonians also left to their descendants astrology, the science of the supposed connection of human destinies with the location of the heavenly bodies.

Around 3000 BC The peoples of Mesopotamia already knew writing and could read. The original pictograms, scratched on stone and pressed into clay, were gradually replaced by complex geometric signs. Scribes used a pointed reed stick to draw on soft clay; the resulting wedge-like signs meant a whole word or syllable.

Enki (“lord of the earth”) is one of the main deities; he is the master of the underground world ocean, fresh waters, all earthly waters, as well as the god of wisdom and the lord of divine powers.

Ut-Napishtim (“found breath”), in mythology the only person who gained immortality.

Utu-Shamash (“day”, “shining”, “light”), in Sumerian mythology the solar god. On his daily journey across the sky, Utu-Shamash hid in the underworld in the evening, bringing light, drink and food to the dead at night, and came out again in the morning because of the mountains Uta was also revered as a judge, the guardian of justice and truth.

Ishtar (“goddess”), in mythology the central female deity, goddess of fertility, carnal love, goddess of war and strife, astral deity, personification of the planet Venus.

Temples played a special role in the development of Mesopotamian civilization. In Mesopotamia, the temple was not only a place where gods were worshiped, sacrifices and other religious activities were performed, but it was also a public repository for grain and food. The villagers poured some of the grain into such barns, creating a general reserve in case of some disaster. The repository was considered sacred, because bread, the basis of life, lay there, which means that good divine forces should also reside: the “spirit of grain” and other deities on which life and abundance depend. In and around this barn, important ceremonies were performed related to the introduction of a new crop into storage, the beginning of sowing and other seasonal holidays. U ancient farmers the barn and the sanctuary were inseparable from each other, and this dual unity of the religious and economic functions of the temple remained throughout Mesopotamian history. cult sacrifices