Religion in the society

Introduction

The religion of the ancient Sumerians has left its mark on the entire Middle East. The most visible sign is the large number of temples and ziggurats (pyramid-shaped towers) in the region. Sumerian literature and cosmogony (study of the universe) has also had a lasting influence on the Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions.

Since each city-state in ancient Sumer worshipped its own god, practices and beliefs varied widely. Each city had its own mythology and theology (religious belief). There was no unified Sumerian religion. Sumerian religion was what is described as polytheistic(worship of many gods). It could also be described as henotheistic(worship of one god without denying the existence of other gods).
Sumerian religion was characterised by polytheism, animism, and anthropomorphism. These beliefs are explained below.

Polytheism (worship of many gods)

Religion was the central organising principle of the city-states. Each city was 'ruled' by a different deity (god) who was worshipped in a large temple in the city centre. People in ancient Sumer worshipped many different gods. The religious importance of each Sumerian god changed with the political power of the associated city.

A ruler was called an en and was often deified (made into a god). Each city had a governor (ensi) or a king (lugal) who often had religious duties, particularly to build and maintain temples. The wife of the king was called a lady or queen (nin). The queen might be in charge of important projects such as managing the affairs of a temple goddess.

The city leaders had a duty to please the town's patron deity. Pleasing the god of the city ensured the goodwill of that god or goddess as well as the goodwill of the other deities in the council of gods. In the earlier dynasties of Ancient Sumer, the priests often had the job of pleasing the gods. In later dynasties, kings assumed religious power. The priests, however, still held great authority through the interpretation of omens and dreams. Refer Image 1

Families also had their own special gods or goddesses. People prayed by clasping their hands in front of their chests.

Animism

Animism is the belief that non-human things in nature have souls or consciousness.

Anthropomorphism

Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human things, such as deities in mythology.
Sumerians believed that the universe consisted of a flat disc enclosed by a tin dome. The world was created out of an ancient sea from which the heaven, earth, gods, and people were created. Sumerians believed that the universe and various natural phenomena were ruled by the gods who had human features and personalities. Earthquakes and storms were associated with the anger and frustration of the gods.

Sumerian gods and goddesses

The key gods of the Sumerians were An (god of heaven), Ki (god of earth), Enlil (god of air), and Enki (god of water). These gods were believed to have created the universe, the whole of humankind and the rules of Sumerian society. According to Sumerian mythology, human beings were made from clay by the gods to serve them. Humans existed to please the gods with certain rituals and animal sacrifices.

An was the primary god of the Sumerians. An's closest group were Enki in the south, Enlil in the north, and Inana, the deification of Venus, the morning (eastern) and evening (western) star. The sun was Utu, the moon was Nanna. Nammu was the Mother Goddess. In addition, there were hundreds of minor gods.

According to Sumerian religion, humanity was at the mercy of the gods.

Temples

Temples, known as ziggurats, were multi-layered, square constructions built to honour and house each city's god. Ziggurats were built as tall as possible in an attempt to reach heaven. The temple of Anu, in Uruk, rose 50 feet above the plain. Refer Image 3 and animation 

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 offering table was intended for animal and vegetable sacrifices.

There were aisles along either side of the cella, which were rooms for priests. These mud-brick buildings were decorated with cone-shaped, geometric mosaics. The walls were painted with occasional frescoes of humans and animals. Near the temples there were usually granaries and storehouses.

The main people who worked at the temples were priests, priestesses, musicians, singers and slaves. Public rituals would take place in the temples each day. There were food sacrifices and libations (pouring oil or wine as an offering to a god). Monthly feasts and annual new year celebrations also took place in the temples.

Festivals

The most important festival for ancient Sumerians was New Year's Day. On this day, the king had to symbolically marry a priestess who represented the goddess Inanna. The wedding ceremony between the king and Inanna was intended to ensure that the city would have a good harvest all year round and that people would be prosperous and well fed.