Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia

This review is for the translation by Teresa Lavender Fagan, published 2001.

Lacking much prior knowledge in Mesopotamian religion, I felt that this book is a bit of a dive into the deep end of the subject. There's little to grab onto in terms of a cast list of the major dieties and what they "govern", nor a glossary for the various Sumerian and Akkadian terms that pop up throughout. Also, the author is fond of long sentances with multiple asides that often turn into paragraphs.

That said, I stuck with it and was rewarded. About half way through the book I did find I was able to adjust to the writing style and lift more meaning from the words on the page.

The chapter on the Mesopotamian views of the origin of the universe and humanity and the chapter on divination and exorcism were especially interesting. Overall a pretty "weighty" read but potentially useful as a referencee.

Some quotes:

Thus, since the inhabitants of Earth were becoming increasingly numerous, boisterous, and noisy, ... Enlil, who still could not sleeep and who was impatient... eventually made the harsh - and it must be said, stupid - decision to destroy them by resorting to the incomparable and absolute weapon of the Flood...

"O splendid lioness of the Igigi-gods, who renders furious gods submissive, Most capablee of all sovereigns, who grasps the leadrope of kings, ... Look upon me, mistress, accept my entreaty! Look steadfastly upon me, hear my prayer!"

They were in the service of the king, who distributed them throughout the land as observers and above all as gatherers of information, to keep the king up to date about anything they noted of political importance: epidemics, bad harvests to anticipate; danger of revots; threat from enemies on the borders, all deduced from the reciprocal positions and movements of the stars.