Looking for some age-old traditions to ring in the (Western) New Year on Jan 1st? Many people don’t realize that the Jan 1st date is a relatively… Read more “Happy New Years! From Sumeria to Lemon Pigs”
Tag: Sumeria
Inanna Prefers the Farmer: Marriage, Sex and Divorce in Ancient Sumeria
Imagine this: two men, one a farmer, the other a shepherd, attempt to win divine affection. In the end, the deity favors the shepherd. Now, this might… Read more “Inanna Prefers the Farmer: Marriage, Sex and Divorce in Ancient Sumeria”
Utnapishtim’s Ark, pt. 2: Gilgamesh’s End
Let’s recap: (Part One can be found here) Gilgamesh was a Sumerian king (technically, he presided over the city of Uruk). However, his heart had grown cruel,… Read more “Utnapishtim’s Ark, pt. 2: Gilgamesh’s End”
Hail Ninkasi, Goddess of Beer!
There are several deities who are associated with intoxicants. Among the Greco-Romans, Dionysus/Bacchus served as the god of wine. In Hinduism, the ascetic god Siva is associated… Read more “Hail Ninkasi, Goddess of Beer!”