goddesses are the patrons of civilized life
weaving, spinning, food preparation, making beer, writing/learning, healing, exorcism, sexual love and warfare
after the end of Ur III period (gender roles)
male gods are more important
changing roles reflect growing inequality at that time
non-formative women
demonization as “witches”
ancient near east
fertile crescent, agriculture, writing system, complex religions, no unifying language
writing system
cuneiform
early sumerian pictographs
early sumerian pictographs
beginning of pictorial art, formed basis of writing
ziggurat
pyramidal stepped temple tower