Reply To: Ruling Mesopotamia

[Rachel Nelson]

Mesopotamia, like many ancient places, constructed huge monuments to honor their gods as well as show the wealth and power of their rulers. A king who could control his people absolutely could command the creation of such mindboggling projects, often stretching on for years and resulting in many lives lost, whereas a weaker rule may not be able to. The bigger and more glamourous the monument, the more glory and respect given to the gods as well as the ruler who commissioned it. Not only a demonstration of power however, the art and construction of ancient civilizations also acted as their history books. The Stele of Naram-sin also served to depict a great battle in their history. In more modern times, Saddam Hussein tried to use the historical significance of the Ziggurat of Ur to deter enemy forces from attacking his planes.