Walk-In Take out notebook, folder, pencil box. Put away backpack. No textbooks today! Copy the question and answer in sentences: Who was in charge of overseeing the storage of grain, and could there be problems caused by that person?

Answer Priests were in charge of directing the storage of grain and how it was given out to the people. This could be a problem if the priests played favorites or went on a power trip! (He who holds the grain makes the rules!)

Religions in Sumer

Reasons for Religions Explains natural events that people are afraid of, such as floods, droughts, fires, diseases. Prayers for good crops, harvests and good living conditions may be answered.

Gathers people together (safety in numbers!) Provides leadership People feel they are not all alone to face their problems.

Polytheism the belief in many gods and goddesses developed because it helped them to understand the good and bad things happening around them.

Each god or goddess had a “department” they were “in charge of”, or that people prayed to them for. Example: a rain god, a goddess for crops, a sun god, etc. They appointed a priest to interpret (figure out) what the gods were thinking.

Good and Bad of Priests Discuss with your group: What were the traits of a good priest? Could there be bad priests? How so?

Ziggurat Religious temples also used as the city center, where the priest ruled and gave orders, grain and other goods were counted, and people prayed together. See page 93 for diagram.

Polytheistic Gods and Goddesses Fold your paper in half, so you have 2 boxes on the front, and two on the back. Design 4 gods or goddesses of things people would pray for. Think of their basic needs, and what they might be afraid of! Make your pictures detailed and colorful! At the top of each picture, write the name of the DEITY (god or goddess), and what it is in charge of. Example: Grainiella, Goddess of Grain

Draw a Ziggurat! Using the diagram on page 93, draw a ziggurat the best you can. Label parts of your diagram using the captions on page 93 to help you. Imagine you are a Sumerian coming to the Ziggurat. Write a paragraph on what you might see and do there.