The religious nature of water in Ancient Mesopotamian societies

Water is the only substance necessary for life to exist. Thanks to this feature, it has been attributed sacredness in almost every religion and belief cult. In the absence of water, no living thing can survive, and the state of attachment to water and its ability to bestow life has become a symbol of sanctity in terms of belief. Therefore, from the first humans to the present day, water has been sanctified in some way, either as a god itself or as a symbol of god on earth. The fact that Mesopotamia was one of the first settlements is due to its favorable water resources. There are beliefs and rituals in every age where there is a human being. Mesopotamia has become a cult center by attributing sanctity to water due to its fertile crescent lands and its location between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. With the arrival of the Sumerians to the region, worship and sacred areas were formed. It also forms the basis of Mesopotamian culture. The important position of the region in terms of rivers and water resources constitutes an indispensable element in religious and cultural life. Water, which is an element of religious life, represents the most effective substance in various worships against water or in the preparation process before worship. It was accepted as the symbol of fertility and to keep the god of water pleasant was aimed. The purifying and cleansing properties of water were also utilized bu humans as the most basic substance of purification rites. In addition to the positive aspects of water, the punishing aspect of water was also taken into consideration. Through flood events or water ordals, attention is drawn to the deterrent and warning aspect of the power of water.