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

The Sumerians, who lived in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) between the 4th and 3rd millennia BCE, had a complex and elaborate belief system regarding the afterlife. They believed that the afterlife was a dark and gloomy place, and that the soul or spirit of a person, called the 'gidim,' would travel there after death.

The Sumerians believed that the journey to the afterlife was perilous, and that the gidim needed to be properly prepared to make the journey. They believed that the dead would be judged by a panel of judges, who would determine whether the gidim was worthy of entering the afterlife.

Therefore, the Sumerians took great care to prepare the body for the afterlife, through the use of elaborate burial rites and rituals. The body was washed and anointed with oils, and then dressed in special garments. Offerings of food and drink were placed in the tomb with the body, to sustain the gidim on its journey. They also believed in burying the dead with their personal belongings, including jewelry and weapons.

The Sumerians also believed in an underworld, ruled by the goddess Ereshkigal and her consort Nergal. They believed that the dead would be judged and then travel to the underworld, where they would live forever in a state of darkness and decay. The Sumerians believed that the living could communicate with the dead through offerings and prayers.

The Sumerians believed that the afterlife was a dark, dreary place called Kur, where the dead would continue a shadowy version of life on earth. They also believed that the dead would be judged by the gods and sent to either a good or bad afterlife depending on their actions in life.

To prepare for the afterlife, the Sumerians would mummify their dead and bury them with food, drink, and other goods that they would need in the next life. They would also perform rituals to help the dead on their journey to Kur.

The Sumerian view of the afterlife was a bleak one, but it offered them some comfort in the face of death. They believed that their loved ones would continue to exist in some form after death, and that they could help them on their journey to the next life.

Here are some specific details about the Sumerian view of the afterlife:

• Kur was a dark, underground place where the dead were believed to dwell. It was a place of darkness, dust, and cold.
• The dead were believed to be judged by the gods after they died. Those who were judged to be good would go to a pleasant afterlife, while those who were judged to be bad would go to a place of suffering.
• The Sumerians believed that they could help their loved ones on their journey to the afterlife by performing rituals and giving them offerings. These rituals and offerings were believed to provide the dead with food, drink, and other necessities in the next life.

The Sumerian view of the afterlife was a complex and evolving one. It was influenced by a variety of factors, including the changing political and social landscape of Mesopotamia. However, at its core, it was a belief system that offered the Sumerians hope and comfort in the face of death.