1. Mythology of the Middle East

2. General Overview Texts date back to 2,500
Some of the oldest texts ever discovered

3. Mesopotamia
Located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in modern-day Iraq
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4. Mesopotamia
Name derived from an ancient Greek term meaning “the land between rivers”
By 5000 BC people had settled the southern portion of the river valley
Mesopotamian life flourished thanks to the practice of farming
Land is extremely fertile
Rain is inconstant
Use of irrigation

5. Mesopotamia Develop cities 4000-3500 BC
Cities were a center of their lives
Built Ziggurats – stepped tower
Major cities include Sumer and Babylon
Poorer families seldom had meat, whereas wealthier families ate it regularly.
Beef, lamb, pork, goat, ducks, and geese were the meats of choice. Fish, turtles, and shellfish were plentiful in the rivers and canals.
Grain  Barley and Wheat
porridge or ground into flour and baked as unleavened bread.

6. Mesopotamian Religion
Used statues to maintain constant reverence
Worshipped hundreds of gods
Anu – father of the gods; god of the sky
Enlil – god of the air
Utu – god of the sun and truth and justice
Nanna – moon god
Inanna – goddess of love and war
Ninhursag – goddess of the earth
Enki – god of fresh water, wisdom, and magic
People felt little to no connection to these deities
Depended on a relationship with their own personal god

7. Mesopotamian Literature
Includes their myths, epics, folktales, prayers, hymns, proverbs, personal letters, and fables
The Epic of Gilgamesh
The Code of Hammurabi

8. Modern Influence Modern literature still contains references
People seem to be more fascinated with ancient Egypt than anything else

9. Persia
Middle Eastern empire

10. Persia Major cities include Persepolis, Susa, and Pasargadae
Located in Modern-day Iran
Lavish culture both in life and in death
Believe in one major god with other helper gods
Ahura Mazda – the great god
Mithra – god of the sun
Anahita – goddess of all waters
Ahriman – god of evil in conflict with Ahura Mazda

11. Egypt
Developed around BC along the Nile river

12. Egyptian Religion
- intro to their religion
ml - list of gods

13. Egyptian Literature
Devoted to the myths surrounding their gods and goddesses
Tombs contained directions to the underworld
Loved stories of adventure, folk tales, poetry, fairy tales, and biographies.