Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is the
Land Between Two Rivers, the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
As these rivers did not flood regularly as did the Nile, life was hard
and unpredictable. This can be seen in much of their art and mythology,
as it is often dark and violent. The creation of the world was the result
of a terrible battle in the Heavens, and many of the gods were not human
at all. However, there are many similarities between the ancient Mesopotamian
mythology and our own religious beliefs today. This should not surprise
us, as Abraham, the Biblical Patriarch, is thought to have been a native
of Ur. It was only natural that many of the important beliefs and customs
should be passed down. Many of the Judeo-Christian stories have roots
here. The stories of the great flood, Moses and even the creation of the
world have their beginnings here. This is a fascinating culture worthy
of study. I am constantly updating and adding material, so please,
come back at a future date to see the new changes and additions.
Near Eastern Art Gallery
- Artifacts from the Near East from Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Assyria and
Anatolia.
Suggested Reading List
- Contains books on the Middle East and Early Biblical History.
The
Akkadian Language - A wonderful page with in-depth information on Babylonian
and Assyrian cuneiform texts, history, prehistory and protohistory.
Hammurabi's
Code of Laws - What most people know Babylon for.
The
Assyro-Babylonian Mythology FAQ - A really great page detailing most
of the gods and myths of the area.
NM's
Creative Impulse - A site just filled with information.
Welcome
to Mesopotamia - This page focuses on the civilizations of the ancient
Near East.
History
of Mesopotamian Medicine - Focuses on all things Mesopotamian, not
just medicine.
Near
Eastern Art - A look at the permenent collection of Near Eastern art
at Emory University.
Tepe Farukhabad - A look
at excavations at a small town on the Deh Luran Plain in Southwestern Iran.
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