Ancient Near Eastern Ancient Near Eastern ReligionsReligions

Mesopotamian Religion:Mesopotamian Religion:

Location: the area Location: the area between the Tigris between the Tigris and Euphrates and Euphrates RiversRivers

Religion: Religion: polytheisticpolytheistic

Historical Development: Historical Development: Mesopotamian CivilizationsMesopotamian Civilizations

Mesopotamia:Mesopotamia: civilization developed around 7000 civilization developed around 7000

B.C. B.C. writing took place much later 3100 writing took place much later 3100

B.C. by the Sumerians. B.C. by the Sumerians. Sumerians, Akkadians, Amorites, Sumerians, Akkadians, Amorites,

Baylonians, and AssyriansBaylonians, and Assyrians Learn much about Mesopotamia from Learn much about Mesopotamia from

the Bible.the Bible.

Assyrian Empire: 8th and 7th Assyrian Empire: 8th and 7th centuries B.C.centuries B.C.

In Judah, moral decline In Judah, moral decline took place as Judah took place as Judah coexisted in much coexisted in much prosperity with the prosperity with the Assyrians. As a result Assyrians. As a result the classical prophets the classical prophets began to preach: began to preach: Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah.and Micah.

Shalmaneser V Shalmaneser V governed Assyria governed Assyria when the northern when the northern nation fell in 722 B.C.nation fell in 722 B.C.

BabyloniaBabylonia Defeated Assyria:Defeated Assyria: 597 B.C. 597 B.C.

Nebuchadnezzer (king Nebuchadnezzer (king of Babylon) attacked of Babylon) attacked Jerusalem and Jerusalem and deported a vast deported a vast number of Jews to number of Jews to Babylon. In 587 B.C. Babylon. In 587 B.C. he completely he completely destroyed Jerusalem. destroyed Jerusalem.

Prophetic figures in Prophetic figures in this time were: this time were: Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Ezekiel.and Ezekiel.

Mesopotamians sought a good life on Mesopotamians sought a good life on this earth but they were constantly this earth but they were constantly bombarded with the forces of chaos bombarded with the forces of chaos around them.around them.

Hammurabi and his law code (8th Hammurabi and his law code (8th century BCE)century BCE)

Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon and made a temporary home for exiled made a temporary home for exiled Jews.Jews.

The Persians will seize power in this The Persians will seize power in this area after the Babylonians.area after the Babylonians.

The Greeks led by Alexander the The Greeks led by Alexander the Great will control the area around Great will control the area around 332 BCE.332 BCE.

After the Greeks come Roman rule.After the Greeks come Roman rule.

Myths of Mesopotamia:Myths of Mesopotamia:

Enuma Elish Enuma Elish Marduk Marduk Tammuz and Ishtar Tammuz and Ishtar

through their through their marriage created marriage created (via sex).(via sex).

The descent of The descent of Inanna Inanna

Enuma Elish tablet

AtrahasisAtrahasis

Gilgamesh:Gilgamesh:

Enkidu and Enkidu and GilgameshGilgamesh

Gilgamesh Gilgamesh searches for searches for immortality once immortality once Enkidu diesEnkidu dies

Worldview: MesopotamiaWorldview: Mesopotamia

World view continued:World view continued:

Absolute:Absolute: Rituals and Symbols:Rituals and Symbols: HumansHumans Relationship to other Religions:Relationship to other Religions:

Iranian Religion:Iranian Religion:

Aka: ancient Persian Aka: ancient Persian ReligionReligion

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

The life of ZoroasterThe life of Zoroaster Born between 660 and 528 BCE Born between 660 and 528 BCE

(7th century BCE)(7th century BCE) At 15 he receives the sacred At 15 he receives the sacred

thread of initiation and lives a thread of initiation and lives a good life afterwardgood life afterward

At 20 he left his parents and his At 20 he left his parents and his wifewife

At 30 he began to wrestle with At 30 he began to wrestle with religion.religion.

Vohu Manah (human figure 9xs as Vohu Manah (human figure 9xs as big as a man) appeared to himbig as a man) appeared to him

Ahura Mazda said that Ahura Mazda said that immortality would be given to the immortality would be given to the followers of Zathustrafollowers of Zathustra

Zoroaster had many visions of Zoroaster had many visions of angels.angels.

He later converted king VishtaspaHe later converted king Vishtaspa Dies at the age of 77Dies at the age of 77

Teachings of Zoroaster:Teachings of Zoroaster:

scriptures of this religion were written over scriptures of this religion were written over centuries.centuries.

Avesta (book of law)Avesta (book of law) Visperad (used to honor lords)Visperad (used to honor lords) Yashts (hymns of praise)Yashts (hymns of praise) Vindevdat (rituals against demons)Vindevdat (rituals against demons) Monotheism (Ahura Mazda was the main Monotheism (Ahura Mazda was the main

god worshiped), or dualism (Angra Mainyu god worshiped), or dualism (Angra Mainyu is the evil deity)is the evil deity)

People are judged upon their deathPeople are judged upon their death

Zoroastrianism after ZoroasterZoroastrianism after Zoroaster

Cyrus embraced ZoroastrianismCyrus embraced Zoroastrianism DariusDarius XerxesXerxes Magi were probably ZoroastrianMagi were probably Zoroastrian Monotheism was replaced with DualismMonotheism was replaced with Dualism Manichaeism developed from the teaching Manichaeism developed from the teaching

of Mani (flesh is evil, spirit is good)of Mani (flesh is evil, spirit is good) Augustine was originally a ManichaeanAugustine was originally a Manichaean More deities were addedMore deities were added Moved to a universalism for salvationMoved to a universalism for salvation

Worldview: ZoroastrianismWorldview: Zoroastrianism

Absolute:Absolute: The World:The World: Humans:Humans: Problem for Humans:Problem for Humans: Solution for Humans:Solution for Humans: Rituals and Symbols:Rituals and Symbols: Life after deathLife after death Relationship to Other ReligionsRelationship to Other Religions