Mesopotamia in the Old Testament

Study Notes

Mesopotamia was important to Europeans due to references to it in the Old Testament, specifically the Book of Genesis, which mentions Sumer as a land of brick-built cities.
Europeans viewed Mesopotamia as a kind of ancestral land, leading to archaeological efforts to prove the literal truth of the Old Testament.

The Bible recounts the Flood as a divine event meant to destroy all life on earth, with Noah chosen to ensure the survival of life.
Noah built an ark, taking a pair of each known species of animals and birds on board, which survived the Flood.
A similar story exists in Mesopotamian tradition, featuring a character called Ziusudra or Utnapishtim.
Many societies have myths about floods, often used to preserve and express memories about important changes in history.

Iraq, the location of Mesopotamia, has diverse environments, including green plains, tree-covered mountain ranges, and a desert region.
The north-east region is suitable for agriculture, with rainfall sufficient to grow crops.
The north features a steppe, where animal herding is a more viable livelihood than agriculture.
The eastern region has tributaries of the Tigris, providing routes of communication into the mountains of Iran.

The first cities and writing emerged in the southern desert region, where the rivers Euphrates and Tigris deposit fertile silt.
The rivers' flooding and irrigation made the desert region suitable for city development.
The city layout featured winding streets, blind alleys, and raised thresholds, with houses built around courtyards to provide privacy and light.

Ancient Mesopotamians had superstitions about houses, recorded in omen tablets at Ur.
For example, a raised threshold was believed to bring wealth, while a front door that did not open towards another house was considered lucky.