The Ancient Period, Before 600 BCE: Handout 1.6: Development of Ancient Afro–Eurasian Religions

The Babylonian religion in the oldest form known to us may be described as a mixture of local and nature cults.

Starting with that phase of religious beliefs known as animism, the Babylonians ascribed life to the phenomena of nature, to trees, stones, and plants, as well as to such natural events as storm, rain, and wind, and to the stars.

Starting with that phase of religious beliefs known as animism, the Babylonians ascribed life to the phenomena of nature, to trees, stones, and plants, as well as to such natural events as storm, rain, and wind, and to the stars.

Babylonians would be led to invoke an infinite number of spirits who were supposed to be the embodiment of the life that manifested itself in such diverse manners.

Babylonians would be led to invoke an infinite number of spirits who were supposed to be the embodiment of the life that manifested itself in such diverse manners.

The result of this would be to give a priority to the sun and moon and the water, and to such natural phenomena as rain, wind and storms, with their accompaniment of thunder and lightning, as opposed to the countless sprites believed to be lurking everywhere.

The result of this would be to give a priority to the sun and moon and the water, and to such natural phenomena as rain, wind and storms, with their accompaniment of thunder and lightning, as opposed to the countless sprites believed to be lurking everywhere.

The rise of agriculture and then cities gradually transformed the belief that nature was alive with spiritual forces (animism) to more systematic theologies and organized religious observances.

The rise of agriculture and then cities gradually transformed the belief that nature was alive with spiritual forces (animism) to more systematic theologies and organized religious observances.

The rise of agriculture and then cities gradually transformed the belief that nature was alive with spiritual forces (animism) to more systematic theologies and organized religious observances.

Full-time religious specialists also evolved, often replacing shamans, the part-time spiritual leaders associated with earlier times.

Because they provided essential services such as writing or calculating the time of the annual floods...priests were the first social group to be freed from direct subsistence labor.

If you have refused to grant nourishment, the dwelling is silent, devoid of all that is good, the country falls exhausted.

Come and prosper! Come and prosper!

A righteous law and pious statute have I taught the land.

A righteous law and pious statute have I taught the land.

I was not negligent, but I made them a long abiding place.

With the mighty weapons which the gods Zamama and Ishtar entrusted to me, with the wisdom that Marduk gave me, I have uprooted the enemy in north and south, subdued the earth, brought prosperity to the land, guaranteed security to the inhabitants in their homes.

My good shadow that has spread over my city; on my breast I cherish the inhabitants of the land of Sumer and Akkad; in my shelter I have let them repose in peace; in my deep wisdom have I enclosed them.

Source B: Excerpts from 101 names of Ahura Mazda, the “Wise Lord” deity, recorded from a Zoroastrian oral tradition originating from the sixth century BCE

1. Worthy of worship
2. Omnipotent
3. Omniscient
4. The Lord of all
5. Without beginning
6. Without end
7. The origin of the formation of the world

1. Worthy of worship
2. Omnipotent
3. Omniscient
4. The Lord of all
5. Without beginning
6. Without end
7. The origin of the formation of the world