In the world around us today we see many religions and ways of life. The past is no different. Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, although close together, had very diverse religious beliefs and customs that also mirrored one another. They each had their own unique way of life and views that reflected how they each regarded life. From the gods they worshipped, to the ways they prepared their dead, the religions of the two ancient city were both eerily similar and differing. The afterlife for each city was no joke. Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt both believed in an Underworld, though they each saw it very differently. In Mesopotamia, the underworld was described as “a dark and gloomy place”. They did not believe that judgement would take place onto
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Each religions had many gods. Egyptians had as many as 114 gods and goddess. One for great things and many for the mundane every day. Possibly the top god was Ra, the sun god, controlling the rising and the setting of the sun. Isis, was the more popular of the goddess, as she watched over the women and children. The Egyptian gods were seemly nicer and more gracious. Mesopotamian gods were seen as harsh and volatile. Ereshkigal was the goddess of the Underworld. Ishtar was the goddess of love and war. The Bull of Heaven was controlled by the sky god Anu; he is now a constellation that we now know as Taurus. Each of the gods represented a part of the everyday for Mesopotamians and Egyptians. Today there are few religions that are as complex as the ones of the Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians, but there are some customs that are but a minor reflection. Many believe in an afterlife, and judgment, many bury their dead with trinkets and tokens of the material world, and many pray to the gods for safe passage that the soul will be at peace and know
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happiness. The beliefs and customs of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia was serious matter and taken with great care. Many were very similar, multiple gods, monuments for the dead, and an Underworld that awaited them. But the stark differences between the customs for each burial, the different types of gods, and how to precede in the Underworld are unfathomable. For being as close as they were the great cities were very
Each religions had many gods. Egyptians had as many as 114 gods and goddess. One for great things and many for the mundane every day. Possibly the top god was Ra, the sun god, controlling the rising and the setting of the sun. Isis, was the more popular of the goddess, as she watched over the women and children. The Egyptian gods were seemly nicer and more gracious. Mesopotamian gods were seen as harsh and volatile. Ereshkigal was the goddess of the Underworld. Ishtar was the goddess of love and war. The Bull of Heaven was controlled by the sky god Anu; he is now a constellation that we now know as Taurus. Each of the gods represented a part of the everyday for Mesopotamians and Egyptians. Today there are few religions that are as complex as the ones of the Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians, but there are some customs that are but a minor reflection. Many believe in an afterlife, and judgment, many bury their dead with trinkets and tokens of the material world, and many pray to the gods for safe passage that the soul will be at peace and know
3
happiness. The beliefs and customs of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia was serious matter and taken with great care. Many were very similar, multiple gods, monuments for the dead, and an Underworld that awaited them. But the stark differences between the customs for each burial, the different types of gods, and how to precede in the Underworld are unfathomable. For being as close as they were the great cities were very