In this session your pupils will discover Sumerian religion through the study of the relationship between the city and its inhabitants, and their protective deity.

Pupils will learn the specificities of Sumerian religious practices,
and understand why the temple was so essential in Sumerian everyday life.

Each Sumerian city belonged to a god (godess): it was his/her dwelling on earth.
For instance, Ur was the city of the moon god, Nanna-Su’en.

The duty of the god was to protect his city: if the god was satisfied, the city would flourish. If the god was unhappy, he would abandon the city and it would be ruined.

The duty of the inhabitants was thus to do everything they could to make their god/dess happy!

Statue of a goddess (II mil BC)
Statue of a goddess (II mil BC)


During the activity, pupils will be responsible for the well-being of “their” god.

Each children plays a character of the much diversified temple staff, to better understand the Sumerian religious practices.

Ur - Ekishnugal 1927

Read more about the gods of Sumer and about temples and offerings (in Sumer and Mesopotamia in general).