What was the Babylonian view of the afterlife and how did they prepare for it?

The Babylonians believed in an afterlife that was a dark and gloomy place called the 'Land of No Return.' It was ruled by the goddess Ereshkigal and her consort Nergal. The Babylonians believed that after death, the soul of the deceased had to cross a treacherous river, similar to the Greek concept of the River Styx. In order to make this journey, the dead had to be buried with food, water, and other necessities.

The Babylonians also believed in a concept called 'ancestor worship,' in which the dead were believed to become supernatural beings that could help or harm the living. It was believed that the spirits of ancestors could be appeased through offerings of food and drink.

The Babylonians prepared for the afterlife by performing funeral rites, such as washing and dressing the body, and providing it with items to make the journey to the underworld. They also held mourning rituals and feasts, and hired professional mourners to wail and lament for the deceased.