1. Mesopotamia The “cradle of civilization.” Early settlements along the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers grew, through agriculture and trade, into the earliest city-states on record. The first rulers were from the priest/warriors class which, over time, evolved into an inherited kingship. These kings took on semi-divine qualities, and were the earthly counterpart to the rulers in the heavens. Their yearly ceremonies, performed atop the city’s ziggurat with a maiden who represented the fertility goddess Inanna (also known as Ishtar), assured the vitality and fruitfulness of the city.

2. Cosmogony: An explanation for the origins of the universe and how the functioning of the heavens is related to the political, religious, and social organization on earth. Creation myths are attempts to depict the cosmic model. These myths gave validity to the existing social structures of the culture.

3. Inanna

4. Power of Words Language to the ancient mind carried power and magic. It is through the spoken or written word that creation takes place. Often, the ability to write was reserved for the priestly caste—one means by which this sector of society was able to hold its power and authority. Some of the earliest written language appeared in Sumeria with the development of cuneiform

5. Time Frames Sumeria: 3500 BC to 2350 BC Gilgamesh is a Sumerian king who lived in the city of Uruk c.2700 BC Akkadia: 2350 BC to 1800 BC Sargon I establishes the first recorded dynasty Babylonia: 1800 BC to 800 BC Descent of Inanna, Epic of Creation and the Gilgamesh Epic are written in the Babylonian language from oral traditions and fragments of written verses that are centuries old. Descent of Inanna, Epic of Creation and the Gilgamesh Epic are written in the Babylonian language from oral traditions and fragments of written verses that are centuries old. Assyria: 800 BC to 626 BC Assurbanipal establishes a library in Ninevah, in which he collects many of the extent texts of the area. Assurbanipal establishes a library in Ninevah, in which he collects many of the extent texts of the area.

7. Image Credits British Museum, London British Museum, London http://www.legolas.org/gallery/historicalmonuments/aad.jpg.html http://www.legolas.org/gallery/historicalmonuments/aad.jpg.html http://www.legolas.org/gallery/historicalmonuments/aad.jpg.html http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/worldlit/default.asp?b=1&c=cultureandcontext&r=M esopotamia http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/worldlit/default.asp?b=1&c=cultureandcontext&r=M esopotamia http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/worldlit/default.asp?b=1&c=cultureandcontext&r=M esopotamia http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/worldlit/default.asp?b=1&c=cultureandcontext&r=M esopotamia http://www.halexandria.org/images/scan0083.gif http://www.halexandria.org/images/scan0083.gif http://www.halexandria.org/images/scan0083.gif http://picasaweb.google.com/BristolianAubs/BerlinAGreatPlaceToChill/photo#505155 5456056408178 http://picasaweb.google.com/BristolianAubs/BerlinAGreatPlaceToChill/photo#505155 5456056408178 http://picasaweb.google.com/BristolianAubs/BerlinAGreatPlaceToChill/photo#505155 5456056408178 http://picasaweb.google.com/BristolianAubs/BerlinAGreatPlaceToChill/photo#505155 5456056408178 http://www.classicalhebrewblog.com/tag/genesis/ http://www.classicalhebrewblog.com/tag/genesis/ http://www.classicalhebrewblog.com/tag/genesis/ http://www.maverickscience.com/thundergods.htm http://www.maverickscience.com/thundergods.htm http://www.maverickscience.com/thundergods.htm http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/gilgamesh.htm http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/gilgamesh.htm http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/gilgamesh.htm http://www.dur.ac.uk/j.h.haubold/ http://www.dur.ac.uk/j.h.haubold/ http://www.dur.ac.uk/j.h.haubold/ http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/case1.html http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/case1.html http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/case1.html