Priests
specialized in practicing rituals
. They could divine (predict or understand) the will of the gods, what to do if the gods were displeased, and how to gain the gods’ favor. This made priests extremely important to the Sumerians, and they became some of the most powerful people in society.
What was the role of a priest in Sumeria?
In Mesopotamian society, priests and priestesses were
equals to the king in power and honor
. They were mediators between the gods and the people. His or her job was to please the gods, to divine their will and communicate it to the ruler and the people.
What was the main responsibility of Sumerian priests quizlet?
Why were priests so important and powerful in Sumerian society? They were in charge of
religious duties, non-religious duties, and gods
. Religious duties: They performed rituals and followed religious rules, they worked to satisfy the gods, and they made offerings to the gods.
What were the rights and responsibilities of priests in Sumerian society?
One, the en or chief priest, oversaw all sacred and religious duties of all the priests and priestesses. His or her job was
to please the gods, to divine their will and communicate it to the ruler and the people
. He supervised scores of other priests in performing sacred duties.
What role did priests play in Mesopotamian and Egyptian society?
Worship. Both Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt had a large class of professional priests to care for the gods. The priestly class was very powerful because each religion played a dominant role in its society. Priests and priestesses served as
the intermediaries between the common man and the divine
.
What were priests jobs and responsibilities?
The primary function of all priests is
administering the church’s seven sacraments
: baptism, confirmation, confession, holy communion, marriage, holy orders, and anointing of the sick. Diocesan priests also visit the sick, oversee religious education programs, and generally provide pastoral care to their parishioners.
How did the priests support the Kings?
The kings respected the priests’ rights and powers. The priests declared that the gods had chosen the king to rule. Together, kings and priests created
religious ceremonies
that supported royal power.
Why was a strong military important to Sumerian city states?
Why was a strong military important to Sumerian city-states?
Sumerians had enemies who attacked their cities, so they needed strong military leaders
. These leaders eventually became kings in each city-state.
What was the basis for all of Sumerian society?
Sumerian polytheism
was the basis for all Sumerian society. Polytheism is the worship of many gods.
What was at the center of Sumerian culture group of answer choices?
Education, represented by the scribes
, was at the center of Sumerian society.
People in Sumer were divided into three social classes. The
upper class included kings, priests, warriors, and government officials
. In the middle class were artisans, merchants, farmers, and fishers.
Who was at the bottom of society in a Sumerian city?
The
Slaves
At the very bottom of Sumerian society were slaves. Slavery was very common in the ancient world, and Sumerian cities would have been full of them. Most of these slaves came from warfare.
What did priestesses do?
Royal Priestesses
Most priestesses served the goddess Hathor. Other women priestesses worked
in temples as dancers, musicians, singers and acrobats
. The most important priestess was known as the God s Wife of Amun. This woman was usually the daughter of the Pharaoh.
Why were the priests so powerful in Mesopotamian society?
In Mesopotamian society, priests and priestesses were
equals to the king in power and honor
. They were mediators between the gods and the people. His or her job was to please the gods, to divine their will and communicate it to the ruler and the people. He supervised scores of other priests in performing sacred duties.
What is unique about the Egyptian government?
The government of ancient Egypt was a
theocratic monarchy as the king ruled by a mandate from the gods
, initially was seen as an intermediary between human beings and the divine, and was supposed to represent the gods’ will through the laws passed and policies approved.
How did priests spend their free time?
Like the Pharaohs, the priests’ also lived in a temple. On their free time, the priests’
attended different funerals, and church ceremonies
. On their free time they played a board game called senit. Their jobs were to build new temples for the Pharaoh and go to meetings.
