Mesopotamia is the cornerstone of culture as we know it, reading their myths I see echoes of mythologies from Greece to the Bible and everything in between. Today I'm focused on their idea of the afterlife, death, rituals and the idea of ghosts. To the mesopotamians death was the land of no return, and their afterword is desolate to say the least. Though it's best to that like all cultures the beliefs are varied for various reasons.
The netherworld also called Kur, Irkalla, Kukku, Arali, Kigal, and Erestu was described as the complete opposite of heaven, and the dark of life on earth. It's been called the "land of no return", and "the house that no one enters with dust on its door and bolt". According to mythologies the dead eats or drinks dry dirt. Family could pour libations otherwise known as offereings to the dead for them to drink. Though this isn't all the case as some mythologies depicted celebrations as the sun God came down to Kur. There isn't a judgement or reward to the dead they are just dead.
Just as with the ancient Egyptians you could be barried with material items that was said to go with you. If they aren't barried with items they could be poorer than poor in the afterlife. They choose items that represents self and wealth. If someone was not burried properly they came back as ghosts as a Gidim. Gidim are the ghosts of people who are believed to have the personality and memory of the diseased. They are said to prescribed illnesses to humans. Cremation in sumerian culture was said if people died by fire than the soul was killed as well. Burial was important to the mesopotamians as it was said to bring the body closer to Kur that and cremation was a waste of wood resource.
The ruler of Kur is Ereshkigal which means mistress of the great earth. She is the goddess of death, demons, and curses. Though later she is replaced by Nergal in which a myth was created that Ereshkigal married Nergal. Of course this was after the myth where her first husband, Gugalanna, died.
Ok there's a whole system to the underworld in Mesopotamian literature. We have ready established that the underworld is gloomy and dismal, there is literally no light in Kur. In the middle of this darkness lies a palace surrounded by a huge city. Deities and their servants resided in the palace while the dead lived in the city. Around the city are 7 walls each with their own gate and gatekeeper. Another important figure known is Namtar, which means fate, who is considered both demon and deity. He is a God of disease and pestilence and is Ereshkigals messenger as well as one of the first original grim reapers. He is usually described as having twisted hands and having a mouth filled with venom.
Most of this knowledge comes from the mythology of the mesopotamians. Though a big part is the way the mesopotamians lived as well. I'm sure there is way more to Kur than just this but it's a neverending study subject.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/science/death/Mesopotamia
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/701/ancient-mesopotamian-beliefs-in-the-afterlife/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Mesopotamian_underworld
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/epic/hd_epic.htm
https://factsanddetails.com/world/cat56/sub363/item1523.html
http://templeofsumer.com/death-burial-and-the-underworld/
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/deit/hd_deit.htm
https://link.medium.com/Y4auPYXFQrb
http://ancientworldburialpractices.blogspot.com/2012/04/sumerian-burial-practicesbeliefs.html?m=1
https://www.gatewaystobabylon.com/religion/nergalereshkigal2000.htm
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