Sumerian religion refers to the mythology, pantheon, rites, and cosmology of the Sumerian civilization. The Sumerian religion influenced Mesopotamian mythology as a whole, surviving in the mythologies and religions of the Hurrians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and other culture groups.
Sumerians believed their world was controlled by gods, goddesses, demons, and monsters. Just like Egyptians, Sumerians thought each god or goddess was responsible for one thing, like the rivers and trees, pottery and bread etc. Therefore there were hundreds of gods/goddesses. Also, each Sumerian city was guarded by a god or goddess. There were also temples for them to live in, and people could go there and make an offering, like a sacrificed animal, food, and valuables. Demons were creatures with human bodies and animal heads created by the gods. They could be either evil or good. The good one convinces people to do good, and the bad one persuades people to be bad.
Famous quotes containing the word religion:
“I never saw, heard, nor read, that the clergy were beloved in any nation where Christianity was the religion of the country. Nothing can render them popular, but some degree of persecution.”
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745)