Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Their Places of Worship

The “White Temple” at Warka is thought to be dedicated to the god, Anu. This structure was built upon a foundation that represented a mountain. Mountains held religious significance to the people of Ancient Mesopotamia. “It stood for the whole earth, and within it, therefore, were concentrated the mysterious powers of life which bring forth vegetation in the spring and autumn, and carry water to dry river beds. The rains, too, come from the mountains, and the Great Mother, source of all life, is named Ninhursag, Lady of the Mountain. The mountain, then, was the habitual setting in which the superhuman became manifest, and the Sumerians, in erecting their Ziggurats with an immense common effort, created the conditions under which communication with the divine became possible.”2 Close to the White Temple there stood a temple of similar tripartite plan. This temple was dedicated to the goddess, Inanna. As glazing became possible, the walls of the temple were decorated with a technique known as, “polychromy.”

In the Early Dynastic period which lasted from approximately 3000 to 2340 B.C. The Architecture of the temple changed again. The Temple at Kafaje was modified from its original design. “We observe that the court has now become and established feature of the building. A monumental entrance, flanked by two towers, gives access to it. In the past one or two steps had led up to the plinth on which the shrine was placed. Now and impressive stairway approaches the entrance.”2 The oval plan of the Kafaje temple is only found during the Early Dynastic Period.

For the majority of Ancient Mesopotamian civilization temples held great political, as well as religious, significance. “By the end of the Early Dynastic period, secular and religious authorities were distinct in some cities, but until the very end of Mesopotamian civilization the secular rulers held their power only as agents of the gods. The ruler was the representative of the god and, to a greater or lesser extent, controlled the resources of the main temple of the city. This temple was the city’s chief landowner and its richest institution.”3 With religious power came political power and vice versa. By controlling the temple and its functions the king and the priesthood of these city-states controlled a vast majority of the resources.

Statues representing worshipers found at temple sites further support the belief that the people of Ancient Mesopotamian city states devoted much of their lives to the Gods. “They represent worshipers and were placed in temples to pray perpetually for the life of the donor. The clasped hands are probably a gesture of reverence and prayer.”3 The previous quote represents the Sumerian figures found at Eshnunna. Similar statues were found in the Abu temple at Tell Asmar. The figures found buried at the Abu temple are shown alongside statues of two deities. “The two divinities are differentiated from their worshipers in three respects: by their stature, by the presence of identifying emblems at their bases, and by the huge diameter of their eyes.”2 These statues show the significance of civilian involvement at places of worship. Temple sites were important to the newly established city lifestyle. Temples and the gods represented within them were a source of community and a source of inspiration for much of the art found in Ancient Mesopotamia.