Religion And Politics In Early Civilization

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorCollege, Undergraduate December 2001

download word file, 4 pages 0.0

Downloaded 15 times

The differences between ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Greek civilizations can be seen through their religion and politics. As citied in the first section, we will look at religion and then politics in the second section.

"When the gods created man they allotted to him death, but life they retained in their own keeping. As for you, Gilgamesh, fill your belly with good things; day and night, night and day, dace and be merry, feast and rejoice. Let your clothes be fresh, bathe yourself in water, cherish the little child that hold your hand, and make your wife happy in your embrace; for this too is the lot of man." Excerpt from Epic of Gilgamesh. This shows that the gods were pessimistic; they lived forever, but no matter what man did, he would always die.

"All beasts are content with their pasturage; Trees and plants are flourishing. The birds which fly from their nests, Their wings are (stretched out) in praise to thy ka" ka meaning soul.

Excerpt from Hymn to Aton. as seen here, the god gives a ka, our a soul to live beyond death, also Akhenaten, as well as all creatures, praise the gods work. This is viewed as a optimistic religion. Although the worship of Aton was not widely accepted, the views it suggested were similar in all of Egypt.

The Greeks have a strange view of religion. It is partially pessimistic, partially optimistic. This can be seen here. "Zeus, and you other gods, grant that this boy of mine may be, like me, pre-eminent in Troy; as strong and brave as I; a mighty king of Ilium{Troy}. May people say, when he comes back from battle, "˜Here is a better man than his father.' Let him bring home the bloodstained armour of the enemy he has...