In An Introduction to Ancient Mesopotamian Religion Tammi J. Schneider provides a succinct but comprehensive look at the fascinating world of ancient religious belief and practice in Mesopotamian region, also known as the modern Middle East.
Schneider's treats the religion of the peoples living in the region of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers from the beginning of the Bronze Age to the time of Alexander the Great and Darius III. Drawing on extant texts, artifacts, and architecture, Schneider uncovers both an intriguing pantheon of deities - including Marduk, Ishtar, and many others - and the complex, fluid, and highly ritualized religious experience of the people who spent their lives serving and appeasing them.
This succinct treatment makes an excellent supplemental reading selection for courses emphasizing the historical and broader religious context of the Old Testament, and will also serve well for all students of ancient history.
