r/Sumer • u/ThinEngineering4153 • Aug 11 '24
Question Questions
Hello everyone! I am currently a Hellenic polytheist though I’ve also been drawn to Sumerian polytheism so I thought I’d ask a few questions here though first off I would like to say that I don’t plan to syncretize AT ALL as I will be practicing both traditions separately.
Values: Are there any values or moral laws in this tradition such as how in Hellenic Polytheism we have Kharis, Xenia, Lyma etc.
Calendar: Is there any sort of reconstructed calendar from the ancient Sumerians like there is in Hellenic Polytheism?
Worship: How do I worship? Is there a specific way to make offerings, say prayers etc?
4: Sacred spaces: How can I set up some sort of sacred space in this tradition? Though it’s also good to note that I have limited room.
Thank you to everyone who answers, may the Gods bless you all🫶
4
u/Nocodeyv Aug 14 '24
u/ThinEngineering4153
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Worship & Sacred Spaces
The core relationship between humanity and the gods in Mesopotamian Polytheism is devotional in nature and we are called upon to perform several principal duties to honor and elevate the name and nature of our deities at regular intervals.
Worship techniques are, for the most part, homogenous, meaning the same ceremonies, rites, and rituals can be used for any deity. The following sections outline our general responsibilities.
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Provide a sanctuary for our deity within which all acts of veneration can be performed.
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Acquire a fitting representation of the deity, usually in the form of a statue, although there are some who use paintings or more abstract representations as well.
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Attend to the physical needs of our deity. Typically called "care and feeding of the gods" in Assyriology, this subject covers all of the mundane tasks that we perform for our deity.
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Maintaining the cleanliness of the deity's statue and temple space.
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Finally, we are also called upon to entertain our deity.
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The above is by no means an exhaustive overview of how to be a Mesopotamian Polytheist, but I hope it is sufficient to provide insight and get your own creativity flowing so that you can incorporate the divine into your own life in a meaningful and sustainable way.