Ancient Near Eastern art is also political. Ancient Babylonia - Religion of the Ancient Near East. Gods in the Desert explores the fascinating religious cultures of the ancient Near East. Religion in Ancient Near East. Myths that symbolized changes in season or occurrences in nature were projected on the heavens, which were mapped out to correspond to the divisions of the earth. While often fragmentary and difficult to interpret, these ancient writings flesh out the cultures that surrounded and influenced ancient Israel. Brill, Leiden, the Netherlands, 1994. 1.2, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Mesopotamia (Sumer, Assyria, Babylonia and Akkad): Assyro-Babylonian religion, Sumerian religion, Mesopotamian mythology, The Levant (Canaan, Ugarit, Ebla, Mitanni): Canaanite religion, Anatolia (the Hittite Empire, Assuwa, Arzawa): Hittite mythology, Hurrian mythology, the Caucasus and the Armenian Highland (Urartu), Cyprus, Crete (Minoan civilization): Minoan religion, Sacrifices (plant and animal sacrifice, libations, rarely, but prominently in mythology, human sacrifice), Polytheism (Though Egypt and Greece were Henotheistic societies), State (city-state)–sponsored religions (theocracy), Magic (invocations, conjurings and Talismans). When religion developed in Mesopotamia is unknown, but the first written records of religious practice date to c. 3500 BCE from Sumer. Ancient Iranian lands had a diversity of spiritual beliefs, and the religions included Zoroastrianism, Mazdakism, Manichaeism, Yazdanism, Mandeanism, and others. On the ethical sides, the religion of Babylonia more particularly, and to a less extent that of Assyria, advances to noticeable conceptions of the qualities associated with the Gods and Goddesses and of the duties imposed on man. It left its trace in incantations, omens and hymns and gave birth to astronomy, which was assiduously cultivated because a knowledge of the heavens was the very foundation of the system of belief unfolded by the priests of Babylonia and Assyria. They were represented in winged bull form, derived from the colossal bulls used as protective genii of royal palaces, the name “Shed” assumed also the meaning of a propitious genius in Babylonian magical literature.[2]. The “ways” appear in this instance to have been the designation of the ecliptic circle, which was divided into three sections or zones—a northern, a middle and a southern zone, Anu being assigned to the first, Enlil to the second, and Ea to the third zone. The religions of the ancient Near East were mostly polytheistic, with some examples of monolatry (for example, Yahwism and Atenism). So completely did this system in the course of time sway men’s minds that the Cults and Sects, from being an expression of animistic beliefs, took on the color derived from the “astral” interpretation of occurrences and doctrines. As an example, during the New Kingdom, the Gods Ra and Amun were syncretized into a single God, Amun-Ra. [5] Such syncretism should be distinguished from mere groupings, also referred to as “families” such as Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. The “ways” appear in this instance to have been the designation of the ecliptic circle, which was divided into three sections or zones — a northern, a middle and a southern zone, Anu being assigned to the first, Enlil to the second, and Ea to the third zone. As an illustration of the manner in which the doctrines of the religion were made to conform to the all-pervading astral theory, it will be sufficient to refer to the modification undergone in this process of the view developed in a very early period which apportioned the control of the universe among the three gods Anu, Enlil and Ea. Tarhunt has a son, Telepinu and a daughter, Inara. Pardee, Dennis. The religions of the ancient Near East were mostly polytheistic, with some early examples of primitive monolatry (Mardukites), Ashurism and Monism (Atenism). The Vedic religion is now generally accepted to be a predecessor of Hinduism, but they are not the same. From the mysterious pyramids, tombs, and temples of Egypt to the powerful heroes, gods, and legends of Mesopotamia, Glenn Holland guides readers through the early religions that are the root of many of today's major faiths. This 2011 book is a history of religious life in the Ancient Near East from the beginnings of agriculture to Alexander the Great's invasion in the 300s BCE. Even though the art of the Ancient Near East varies according to period and area of origin, we can still identify a few of its major characteristics. Especially the Luwian pantheon exerted a strong influence on the ancient Greek religion, while Assyro-Babylonian religion influenced Achaemenid-era Zoroastrianism and Judaism. Disassociating these Gods from all local connections, Anu became the power presiding over the Heavens, to Enlil was assigned the earth and the atmosphere immediately above it, while Ea ruled over the deep. There are broad practices that these religions often hold in common: Typically, ancient Near Eastern religions were centered on theocracies, with a dominating regional cult of the god of a city-state. Shamash, the Sun-God, was invested with justice as his chief trait, Marduk is portrayed as full of mercy and kindness, and Ea is in general the protector of mankind, a father who takes them under his protection. “Chaldaean wisdom” became, in the classical world, the synonym of this science, which in its character was so essentially religious. It would appear also that the rulers were always singled out for divine grace, and in the earlier periods of the history, owing to the prevailing view that the rulers stood nearer to the Gods than other mortals, the kings were deified after death, and in some instances divine honours were paid to them even during their lifetime. 2002. The impetus to the purification of the old Semite religion to which the Hebrews for a long time clung in common with their fellows — the various branches of nomadic Arabs — was largely furnished by the remarkable civilization unfolded in the Euphrates valley and in many of the traditions, myths and legends embodied in the Old Testament; traces of direct adaptation from and responses to Babylonia may be discerned, while the indirect influences in the domain of the prophetical books, as also in the Psalms and in the so-called “wisdom literature“, are even more noteworthy. Background: There is a difference between reformed and un-reformed religion. In Chaldean mythology the seven evil Demons were known as Shedu, meaning “Storm-Demon”. This article will attempt to outline the common traits of ancient Near Eastern religions, and refer to sub-articles for in-depth descriptions. 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