Sumerian View Of The Afterlife Essay, Research Paper

The differences between the cultures view of the afterlife effect their society s art, sculpture and architecture. It also reflects the culture s environment. This can be seen in Gilgamesh, Anpu & Bata, Hatshepsut goes to punt, a dialogue/Dispute with the soul.

In Gilgamesh the main protagonist had to go through many trials and tribulations to be able to achieve perfect hero , which meant he had to encompass his people good moral traits and in the process go through many changes and rebirths in the process. In the Story of Anpu & Bata there are mentions of many rebirths or reincarnations that the brothers go through, which can be interpreted as away of coming to grips with death in another life to complete what was not finished, Also in the Dialogue/dispute with a man and his soul the accounts of the afterlife was viewed as another plain where death was celebrated accepted and was something to prepare for, Then in Hatshepsut goes to punt, it was journey in which the people thought important enough to put in someone tomb. Of the things that unite these sources one major point is the omnipresent of gods or goddess; they are the reason why the afterlife plays such a huge role. In the Egyptian and Sumerian text the gods played a role in every aspect of the people life and the cultures believed that everything happened due to some god or goddess doing. Like in Sumerian literature Gilgamesh always calls the gods for guidance and help whenever faced with a tough task. In Egyptian culture the Goddess played a role in resolving problems like in Anpu and Bata; when Bata had faced adversary with his bro he called on the sun god Ra to help him. Even though the gods or goddess helped the people they demanded that scarifies be made in their honor, thus many rituals and ceremonies resulted from people taking something in the to sacrifice it in the name of who it was for. Thus it was important to have daily homage to some god. This went even further with the introduction of death, when people died they viewed as some transition rather than an end. The transition was to someplace peaceful and joyous if prepared, but if u didn t then the repercussion were great and outnumbered what was good .In gilgamesh the gilgamesh prepared for his death by going through many trials and changes to become who he is when he made his finial journey . In the Egyptian culture people go through even more strife to become a one in the celestial bodies. Like the saying goes work hard when you re alive and rest when you re dead.

With the Egyptians people made many sacrifices to prepare for there death, one was the erection of huge pyramids and thus bringing about the many wonders of the old world. Also in the process of preparing for the afterlife people made many things that happened to represent the after life in some way or form like hieroglyphics that are seen today in many tombs or monuments like that of gilgamesh in many places.

In many ways Egyptian culture had similar beliefs and of things in common with the Sumerian culture. they both were around at different time period s and both had many of the same concepts but the Egyptian civilization culture was much farther an was located in a different region that happened dot be surround by a vast desert and thus explain it s prosperity. But in Sumerian culture it was locate between many rivers well actually two main one so in conclusion the cultures beliefs made many things influence them thus giving each one individuality and something that had been seen nowhere else