Ancient Mesopotamia Research Articles

The Death of the Gods in Mesopotamian Literature

The beliefs of ancient Mesopotamia included many important topics, which looked into the secret of man’s existence, life, and well-being, and the matter went beyond that when he beliefs with his death or the cessation of his life, so the idea of death for him was mysterious, frightening, or chilling the soul, and surrounded by the unknown. So the study of death and life is one of the topics, which draws knowledge of the emotional state towards knowing mortality and how to deal with it, especially, when the people of Mesopotamia thought about, all this leading us to a better understanding of death. The people of Mesopotamia did not doubt about the inevitability of death for man, and made immortality the share of the gods, but Mesopotamian mythological thought leads us to differentiate between the death of gods and the death of humans. Through literary texts we know that the death of gods means disappearing and then appearing or returning again. It also means changing from one state to another as a result of an act that was not death in the true sense, but rather it is their transformation from one state to another. Or they took the permanent form or nature consecrated to them after they were killed, or the final stable form whose accompanying entity was known.

Bring an Ancient Mesopotamian Deity to Work Day

Bring an Ancient Mesopotamian Deity to Work Day

Sacred Space and Ritual Behaviour in Ancient Mesopotamia: A View from Tello/Girsu

Girsu, the modern site of Tello (southern Iraq), represents one of the earliest known urban centres of the ancient world, along with Uruk, Eridu, and Ur. During the 3rd millennium BCE (3000–2000 BCE), Girsu was revered as the sanctuary of the Sumerian heroic deity Ningirsu, who fought with supernatural beasts and made possible the introduction of irrigation and agriculture in Sumer. While much is known about the gods, their roles, and rituals inside the temples, there is little textual or archaeological evidence concerning the rituals that took place in the large open-air plazas adjacent to the temples. These areas within the sacred precinct were where the general population would gather to participate in festivals and ceremonies to honour the gods. To better understand the ancient cultic realm in southern Mesopotamia, an in-depth investigation of a favissa (ritual pit) discovered within the sacred precinct at Girsu was undertaken. The excavations recovered a large quantity of ceramics and animal remains that had been used for ritual purposes. Through the study of archaeological remains of cultic spaces at Girsu, information on ritual behaviour such as sacrificial animal slaughtering and consumption for the purpose of feasting, the types of libations provided to quench the thirst of the gods, and the distance travelled to take part in the annual festivals to pay homage to the patron god of their sacred city were explored. Analysis of the associated ceramics, cuneiform texts, and zooarchaeological remains (including stable isotope data), allowed a multi-faceted and integrative approach to better understand ceremonial behaviour and ritual feasting in this sacred city. New insights into communal and performative participation in ceremonies, especially by non-elite individuals, are generated. These data increase our knowledge not only of how Girsu’s citizens organised their sacred spaces and religious festivals, but also of how they behaved in order to satisfy the ever-demanding needs of their gods.

Social group identities and semantic domains in the ancient Near East

Abstract Digital Humanities has an increasing need for widely applicable and easy-to-use methods across disciplinary boundaries. We believe that the cross-disciplinary methods we have developed for the study of the ancient Near East are useful for the study of other research questions outside the field of “Digital Assyriology”. The article presents an overview of automated language processing for lexical-semantic analysis, social network analysis, and content analysis. We draw on the work in our research group, which aims to address how changing empires affect social group identities and lifeways in the first millennium BCE in Mesopotamia. The article places the methods our research team has developed into the larger methodological context of Digital Humanities (DH). The article presents an overview of the tools our research group has found useful in our study of ancient social groups. Sections 1 and 2 give the necessary background for the reader to understand the particular challenges related to the study of ancient Mesopotamia and how we have overcome them. The concrete case studies presented in Sections 3 and 4, however, are kept as general as possible, to facilitate similar approaches in adjacent fields of study. Our methodology and approaches are well documented and openly available, and in our view can be used on similar text materials, by other groups interested in DH approaches.

Daniel 4 and the Cultural Schema of the Akītu-Festival

Abstract The king’s condition in Dan 4 has invited significant discussion. Proposed interpretations of the king’s condition in Dan 4 include various medical diagnoses, imagery from the underworld, primitive uncivilized behavior, or imagery associated with divine displeasure and affliction. The current study argues, however, that the key to interpreting these images should be found in the passage’s connection to one of the most prominent rituals of royal legitimation in ancient Mesopotamia, the akītu-festival. The akītu-festival celebrated the divine legitimation of the king through a ritual of 1) the king’s loss of royal status before it is returned; 2) a decree of destiny; and 3) a dramatic exit and re-entry into the city as a symbol of exit and re-entry into the ordered world. It is within the narrative arc of this festival that the animalian imagery of Dan 4 finds its most compelling explanation.

Edible landscapes in Persian gardens: a historical perspective from ancient Iran to the present day

ABSTRACT Persian gardens have a rich cultural and historical significance as a part of human heritage. This paper provides a historical review of the edibility of Persian gardens, from ancient Mesopotamia to the present day. The analysis demonstrates that while fruit trees have always been a part of these gardens, the cultivation of edible species has been neglected in modern times. The study highlights the importance of restoring the edible landscape in Persian gardens, in line with the historical and cultural significance of these landscapes. The findings have implications for the management and restoration of Persian gardens, with the potential for wider application in other cultural contexts. This paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on landscape history and its interdisciplinary study.

Commentary on a Commentary on Ancient Mesopotamian Commentaries

A gathering of the available ancient diagnostic commentaries, difficult as they are, should allow for the discovery of many interesting insights into the production of knowledge in ancient Mesopotamia. The work under review is disappointing in this regard. The presentation is cumbersome and confusing. The translations are all too often inaccurate, as are the interpretations. All in all, the work represents a step or two backward from previous editions of the texts. With these defects corrected, however, these ancient commentaries have much to offer the modern reader.

A Theocratic Approach To Governance In Ancient Times: Assyrıans

The organized belief systems, temple structures, and religion-state relations that emerged with the Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia began to undergo Semiticization with the dominance of Semitic societies in the region. Sumerian cultural elements, which underwent Semiticization during the Old Babylonian period, assumed an Assyrian character with the rise of the Assyrian State in the Ancient Near East and its evolution into an imperial structure. The Assyrian society, known for its religious orientation, operated on a religion-based understanding of state organization and the formulation of state policies. It was believed that divine requests and orders influenced various situations, such as kings' legitimacy, heirs' determination, and decisions regarding wars and peace. The land was perceived as belonging to the gods, and the kings were seen as representatives of the gods on earth. This study aims to uncover the theocratic aspects of Assyrian state administration based on information gleaned from cuneiform sources and modern literature.

La glyptique : du berceau des civilisations à nos jours, un art millénaire en constante évolution

The art of stone or gem engraving was invented at the dawn of civilizations. It has played an essential role in the history of art and culture from its start to nowadays, evolving over the centuries to become a means of artistic expression. The earliest forms of glyptic art were observed among ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, around 4,000 BC. Engraved cylindrical seals and scarabs served both as objects of art and means of personal identification. Glyptic art reached its first peak in Greece and Rome. Talented artisans produced intaglios featuring mythological motifs, portraits, and historical scenes, used as personal seals, jewelry, amulets, and collectibles. Throughout the ages of medieval Europe, the art of glyptics survived mainly through ancient collections and a few scattered monastic workshops. The Renaissance saw a renewed interest in engraved gemstones, with the development of a new form of tourism driven by the bourgeoisie. Glyptic art experienced its second peak in the 18th-19th centuries with the fashion for cameos. Today, glyptic art is gradually making a comeback, not only drawing the interest of collectors of ancient pieces but also coming back to the front of the jewelry scene.

The God Šamaš with His Political and Social Aspects in Ancient Mesopotamia

The Ancient Mesopotamian societies showcased their culture through a structural amalgamation of politics, economy, and particularly religion. Within this framework, they fulfilled religious obligations under the worship of numerous gods and goddesses throughout various stages of life, seeking to sustain earthly existence and attain peace in the afterlife. In this context, the cult of the god Šamaš held significant importance among the Ancient Mesopotamian societies. It is recognized, however, that Utu, the Sumerian sun god, formed the foundation of the Šamaš cult. Utu held a revered status within Sumerian society, symbolizing the sun and justice, which governed people’s lives and was deemed essential for a fair societal order. Following the Sumerian era, Utu was referenced as the god Šamaš in Semitic societies. Consequently, Utu was mostly associated with justice, whereas Šamaš was renowned for upholding and enforcing laws to ensure justice. Revered by many societies, Šamaš was consistently viewed as integral to power and authority in Ancient Mesopotamia. The Mesopotamian rulers had to justify their power and endorse every action they took in the eyes of their people, portraying themselves as deputies and shepherds of the gods. In doing so, rulers relied on the support of specific gods to establish their authority on religious grounds. This study seeks to explore the influence of the god Šamaš on Ancient Mesopotamian societies across various facets. It aims to delve into what Šamaš signified in the daily lives of people and what expectations they held regarding their beliefs. Additionally, the research will investigate Šamaš’s roles in Ancient Mesopotamian politics, intra-state dynamics, and inter-state relations.

Interior design history and timeline

Interior Design history and timeline offer fascinating explorations of the evolution of design practices across various civilizations and epochs. This paper, delves into the rich heritage of interior design, tracing its trajectory from Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt to Contemporary global trends. Drawing upon the interdisciplinary insights from Art History, Architecture, Sociology, and Technology studies, the study examines the cultural, social, and technological factors that have shaped interior design over time. Key themes include the influence of cultural contexts, the role of historical legacies, and the impact of technological advancements on design evolution. Through qualitative inquiry and comprehensive literature reviews, the research elucidates the enduring relevance and dynamic nature of Interior Design, providing valuable insights for contemporary designers and scholars.

Classification in Sumerian cuneiform and the implementation of iClassifier

Sumerian, an agglutinative language of unknown affiliation, surfaced in mankind’s earliest written sources around 3300 BCE. It continued to play a salient role in the transmission of cuneiform cultures for more than three millennia, even after its disappearance as a vernacular (around 2000 BCE). From its beginnings, semantic classification played an important role in this initially predominantly semasiographic-ideographic script. Here, such classifications are contrasted with and compared to the normalized ‘consolidated’ standard set of pre- and post-nominal classifiers – generally known as ‘determinatives’ – which function chiefly as sortal classifiers. It is further suggested here that the relationship between classifying nouns and classified nouns is best described in terms of nominal apposition. This article further provides updated examples of how the relevant information was entered into the iClassifier digital tool, specially designed for such comparisons in order to improve our understanding of how cuneiform classifiers mark their host words and to make them comparable with similar features in other complex scripts and other languages. We will then briefly survey how the answers to queries in the iClassifier may help to illuminate ‘the diverse mindsets of ancient Mesopotamia’.

Allah is the Only True God

People in this world worship multiple gods, others worship only one God, and others worship no god Polytheism was practiced by ancient Egyptians, and ancient Mesopotamians, ancient Greeks and ancient Romans.(.Kimmerle Heinz,2006). Abrahamic religion replaced polytheism to monotheism belief, which only one deity is worshiped. This paper analyzes the concept of the existence of God, who is the true God, who is Allah. Allah is the true name of God of all Prophets, and Islam is the religion of all Prophets from Adam, Moses to Muhammad, all the Prophets were Muslims and Islam is the only true religion, and Allah is the only true God. ( Quran 3:19)

Material Affective Engagements: Examples from Ancient Mesopotamia

This article applies approaches from current emotion research on material affective scaffolds—objects made and used to enhance, and more generally transform, affective states—to the emerging field of study focusing on emotions in ancient Near Eastern societies. Its main goal is to extend the framework of 4E cognition—with its central notion that human cognition is embodied, embedded, enactive, and extended—to the realm of affective states, emphasizing that through our bodily interactions with material objects we transform not just our cognitive processes but also our emotions, moods, and so forth. Thereby, the present study seeks to contribute to the exploration of the relationships between sensory experiences, emotions, moods, and the material world by investigating the affective meanings that material things acquire through people’s entanglements with them. The study focuses on one particular class of objects—Mesopotamian amulets from the first millennium BC, which served as bodily adornments but were also understood to have the power to evoke affective responses through their activation in ritual performances. Referring to scholarly compendia in Mesopotamian cuneiform texts, this study demonstrates that these objects were recommended by healing experts to influence different affective states, both in oneself and others. It examines the connection between affective states and specific material features of the amulet components (consisting of minerals, metals, and plant and animal substances). Finally, Mesopotamian views of affective states and their management are compared with those of contemporary cognitive-affective science. This comparison shows that although there are some analogies, there are also important differences that depend mainly on different understandings of the human mind and agency. byUlrike SteinertJohannes Gutenberg University Mainzusteiner@unimainz.deandGiovanna ColombettiUniversity of ExeterG.Colombetti@exeter.ac.uk

The Yoke as a Metaphor in the Ancient World: From Symbolizing Imperial Domination to Signifying Subjugation

This article explores the perception of the yoke as a symbol of domination and subordination in texts from Ancient Mesopotamia and the Middle East, as well as from ancient Greek and Roman writings. The metaphor of the yoke is analyzed from the perspective of both the conquerors and subjugated. In the texts of the Assyrian kings, conquest is perceived as the imposition of a yoke, while the fight for independence is portrayed as liberation from it. The Greeks adopted the concept of the yoke from the East, which explains why it was often used to describe the Greco-Persian conflict in the ancient Greek tradition. In many cases, the yoke was not only a metaphor for subordination but also had a military-political meaning. For example, the Assyrians harnessed captives to the royal chariot, while the Romans drove away captive enemies “under the yoke”, which was a structure consisting of two spears or pillars stuck into the ground with a third spear or pillar as a crossbar.

An archaeomagnetic study of the Ishtar Gate, Babylon.

Data from the marriage of paleomagnetism and archaeology (archaeomagnetism) are the backbone of attempts to create geomagnetic field models for ancient times. Paleointensity experimental design has been the focus of intensive efforts and the requirements and shortcomings are increasingly well understood. Some archaeological materials have excellent age control from inscriptions, which can be tied to a given decade or even a specific year in some cases. In this study, we analyzed fired mud bricks used for the construction of the Ishtar Gate, the entrance complex to the ancient city of Babylon in Southern Mesopotamia. We were able to extract reliable intensity data from all three phases of the gate, the earliest of which includes bricks inscribed with the name of King Nebuchadnezzar II (605 to 562 BCE). These results (1) add high quality intensity data to a region relatively unexplored so far (Southern Mesopotamia), (2) contribute to a better understanding of paleosecular variation in this region, and the development of an archaeomagnetic dating reference for one of the key regions in the history of human civilizations; (3) demonstrate the potential of inscribed bricks (glazed and unglazed), a common material in ancient Mesopotamia, to archaeomagnetic studies; and (4) suggest that the gate complex was constructed some time after the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, and that there were no substantial chronological gaps in the construction of each consecutive phase. The best fit of our data (averaging 136±2.1 ZAm2) with those of the reference curve (the Levantine Archaeomagnetic Curve) is 569 BCE.

Верифицируя прошлое: к вопросу о топографической достоверности древнемесопотамских карт

Верифицируя прошлое: к вопросу о топографической достоверности древнемесопотамских карт

The Terminology of Soft Furnishings in Ancient Babylonia, Greece, and Rome: A Comparative Approach

Various kinds of textiles were used to furnish domestic spaces in Antiquity, such as curtains, covers, hangings, pillows, cushions, mattresses, rugs, tapestries, tablecloths, and towels. These objects have practical and everyday functions, they embellish and add to daily comfort in the house and speak to the owner’s prosperity. Being made of perishable materials, furnishings have, on the whole, not survived in ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome. Apart from a few excavated pieces of textiles found in tombs, our information comes primarily from written testimonia and iconography. It is thus essential to consider soft furnishings in their own right, in order to better identify their vocabulary in the literary sources. In the private context, furnishings offer glimpses of the domestic life rarely documented in texts. In the religious context, furnishings provide clues for the interior sacred space, the cultic furniture, the various ceremonies that took place (opening and closing the curtains in front of the divine statue, arranging dishes on a nape, washing, and wiping hands during ablution rituals, etc.), and their luxurious production. Furthermore, the terminology of soft furnishings gives information about their material appearance, method of manufacture, and decoration, and should therefore be fully included in the economic and technical history of textile crafts in antiquity. This article examines the terminologies of soft furnishings in three contexts: Babylonia in the 1st millennium BC, ancient Greece (5th–1st centuries BC) and the Roman world (3rd BC–3rd centuries AD). The observation of the vocabulary of soft furnishings in three different contexts and periods of the ancient world reveals common points, evolutions, circulation of objects, and uses.

UNDER THE GOLDEN PAINT. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA IN 1960S ITALIAN POPULAR CINEMA

Mytho-historical epic movies enjoyed a particular popularity in Italian popular cinema of the 1950–1960s, presenting a mix of themes and motifs from antiquity and the Bible. In this article, one such movie, “Io, Semiramide” (dir. P. Zelio, 1963) is singled out for analysis to demonstrate the reception of ancient Mesopotamia in this corpus. The visual language of these movies is based on the principles of European art of the 19th century. Therefore, the first part of the article is devoted to an overview of the formation of this specific system, and the role of the popularization of archaeological knowledge, archaeological illustration, museums, ornamental pattern books. This is followed by the in-depth analysis of “Io, Semiramide”. Its decorations are compared to previous and contemporary movies and their 19th century roots. The film builds up several typical spaces, with their set visual code and semantic aspects (throne room, temple, private quarters, etc.). Particular attention is paid to the role of statues and reliefs, many of which have an archaeological “provenance”, but are modified according to the dramaturgy. The general “Oriental” background of the movie is punctuated with motifs from classical antiquity (e.g. the deliberate comparison of a male body with the Parthenon sculptures or the situation of a conspiracy scene in a sort of “Roman thermae”). Finally, the role of one particular object (the so-called altar of Tukulti-Ninurta I) is examined in detail, as it is used, quite creatively, to accentuate the actions on the screen.

Коллекция месопотамских древностей в Йенском университете им. Фридриха Шиллера: история и характеристика собрания

The “Frau Professor Hilprecht Collection”, kept at the Institute of Languages and Cultures of the Middle East at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, is the largest collection of Babylonian antiquities in Germany, rivaling in its cultural and historical significance the collections of the Museum of the Ancient Middle East in Berlin, the University of Pennsylvania Museum in Philadelphia, the Yale Babylonian Collection in New Haven, the Archaeological Museum in Istanbul, the British Museum in London, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and a number of other thematic museum collections. Standing out from their background due to the quality of objects, mainly discovered during the excavations of Nippur and dated from the Sumerian and Old Akkadian period (IV–III thousand BC) up to the early Islamic period, the Jena collection plays an important role in the study of culture, history, science and literature of the peoples of ancient Mesopotamia. The purpose of this article is an analytical review of this collection, highlighting the most significant and interesting artifacts, as well as considering the history of the origin, movement and study of this collection. Special attention is paid to the literary cuneiform tablets, some of which are unique and no longer found in any of the Mesopotamian collections, as well as the one-of-a-kind map of Nippur, dating from the middle of the II millennium BC and considered as the oldest map of the city in the world. The most important topic of the publication and translation of the texts of the tablets and the step-by-step digitization of all the objects of the collection is also touched upon.