Religion

Mesopotamians believed in many gods and goddesses, each controlling part of the world.

Anu was the god of the sky, the ruler of all other gods.

Enlil was the god of wind and air, who decided the fates of humans.

Ishtar was the goddess of love and war, fierce and beautiful.

Ea (Enki) was the god of water and wisdom, protector of humans.

They believed the gods lived in the ziggurats and controlled everything — floods, harvests, and even sickness.

When people died, their souls traveled to a dark underworld where they lived forever as shadowy spirits. Families brought food, oil, and small gifts to graves to keep the spirits happy, believing that unhappy spirits could bring misfortune.

Inside Mesopotamian temples, archaeologists found statues with huge, wide eyes that seem to stare forever. These weren’t meant to look creepy — the big eyes showed that the people who made them were always watching the gods and staying truthful. Mesopotamians believed the gods could see everything, so if your statue’s eyes were small, people might think you were a liar or hiding something! Even when worshippers couldn’t stay in the temple all day, their statues stood there for them — eyes wide open, always watching, always honest.