Great Death Pit Sumar. Ur, Early Dynastic Period, Circa 2500 B.C

Fearen/Rosenthal WH 9R Role of Women in Ancient Sumer

Great Death Pit – Sumar. Ur, Early Dynastic Period, circa 2500 B.C.

The Sumerians believed their kings and queens were divine, and that ordinary humans were created for the service of gods. The grave of Queen Shubad shows that the Sumerians believed in an afterlife. Six men and sixty-eight women were buried with her so that they could serve her in the afterlife. There were also a lot of jewels and gold buried with her so that she would have money in the afterlife.

True or False Queens had some authority in government and religion.

Temple of the Goddess Bau: Lagash, circa 2350 B.C.

Queen Shagshag was in charge of this temple. She had legal and economic authority over the whole temple area. About 1000 to 1200 people worked there year round. She was also the chief priestess. Tablets show that her domestic staff consisted of:

True or False Women had some authority in religion. Erishti-Aya: Letters to King Zimri-Lim of the city-state of Mari, Akkadian Dynasty 1750 B. C.

Zimri-Lim was king of Mari in northern Mesopotamia during the time of Hummurabi. Elite women in Mari held relatively equal status with men. They stood in for the king when he was absent, and ruled in city-states that had been conquered.

True or False Wealthy women took part in government.