what were Mesopotamian gods like (or Uruk) and Early Dynastic periods, Mesopotamian religion was complex and complex. It was believed that the gods influenced every aspect of human life, and it was the responsibility of all humans—including kings—to spend their lives appeasing, or satisfying, the gods.
This is why Mesopotamian gods were depicted as large, imposing human-like beings with well-defined body features. In fact, this was one of the earliest examples of figurative art in the world.
In Mesopotamia, each city had a patron deity that resided within the temple’s statue. Throughout the day, citizens would offer food and drink as well as clothing and jewels to their patron gods. They hoped that in doing so, the gods would be pleased and inclined to protect and prosper them.
Unveiling the Pantheon: Exploring the Mesopotamian Gods and Their Stories
The gods were also seen as a sort of landed nobility—each had a temple and its lands, as well as a city they controlled. In addition, the major Mesopotamian gods gathered together on a regular basis to vote on issues of national importance such as the election and deposition of kings.
The most important of the Mesopotamian gods was Marduk, who was credited with forming and bringing order to the universe. According to creation myths, he defeated the goddess Tiamat’s army of primordial chaos and was subsequently deemed the god who ruled over both heaven and earth. He was therefore a powerful, unifying figure for the entire Mesopotamian pantheon. He was the god of war, justice and law.