Mesopotamian Religion

What gift did Ninhursag (goddess of the earth) ask from Enki (god of fresh water) according to this passage?

Document 1: Excerpt from Enki and Ninhursag:

“And it was in Dilmun, at that time that Enki, the wise god of...the Sweet Waters,...met the Lady of the Stony Earth, Ninhursag...Ninhursag looked around the land, her stony body, and ...said then to Enki....”I look at the earth of Dilmun...and feel...the thirst for the gifts that you...surely can bring” Enki then told Ninhursag, “For Dilmun, the land of my lady’s heart, I will create long waterways, rivers and canals, whereby water will flow to quench the thirst of all beings and bring abundance to all that lives.” Enki then summoned Utu, the Sun god and Light of the Day. Together, they...created the waterways to surround the land with a never-ending source of fertile Sweet Waters.”

• the Sun god and Light of the Day

• Dilmun, the land of my lady's heart

• her stony body, the earth

• waterways, canals, and rivers

What was Enki's main role in the lives of the Mesopotamians?

• to provide fresh water through the Tigris and Euphrates rivers

• to provide fresh water from the Persian Gulf

• to provide land for the Mesopotamians to live in

• to provide farmland for the Mesopotamians to grow crops

How does the way Enlil is pictured in this image relate to his importance in agriculture?

• his animal features show that he's the god of animals

• his holding a plant shows that he's the god of farmers

• his animal features and holding a plant show that animals help farmers plant and grow crops

• his holding a plant and having animal features show that people needed to learn to farm

Which statement is true about the gods/goddesses Enki, Enlil and Ninhursag?

• They did not communicate with each other.

• They communicated and cooperated with each other.

• They communicated with each other, but did not cooperate with each other.

• None of them knew the others existed.

Why would the Mesopotamian people choose to believe in many gods, rather than just one?

• There are many different parts of nature that have to work together.

• They argue and have disagreements often.

• In Hammurabi's code, it was a law that there would have to be multiple gods.

• One god would pay no attention to humans.

In what way are the three main gods/goddesses in Mesopotamia alike?

• They are all pictured with animal features.

• They are all the gods of farmers.

• Each one has control of some aspect of nature or weather.

• They are all pictured with wings and feathers like birds.

Why did Ninhursag asked Enki for his gift of fresh water for the earth according to the passage?

Document 1: Excerpt from Enki and Ninhursag:

“And it was in Dilmun, at that time that Enki, the wise god of...the Sweet Waters,...met the Lady of the Stony Earth, Ninhursag...Ninhursag looked around the land, her stony body, and ...said then to Enki....”I look at the earth of Dilmun...and feel...the thirst for the gifts that you...surely can bring” Enki then told Ninhursag, “For Dilmun, the land of my lady’s heart, I will create long waterways, rivers and canals, whereby water will flow to quench the thirst of all beings and bring abundance to all that lives.” Enki then summoned Utu, the Sun god and Light of the Day. Together, they...created the waterways to surround the land with a never-ending source of fertile Sweet Waters.”

• The earth and all that was in it was thirsty and needed water.

• The earth was wet and needed even more water.

• People were dying of thirst.

Enki is pictured with streams of fresh water flowing from him. What physical landform located in Mesopotamia are those streams of water symbolizing?

• the Mediterranean Sea

• the Persian Gulf

• the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

• the Fertile Crescent

Enki is holding a plant out for Ninhursag to take as a gift. Why is this important?

• He is offering her the gift of crops along with fresh water and irrigation.

• He is giving her a marriage present.

• He is the god of farming and agriculture.

• He is not giving her fresh water, only a plant.

Which word means "the belief in more than one god or goddess"?

• monotheism

• religion

• polytheism

• sacrifice