College of Archaeology

The master’s thesis entitled “Religious Rituals in the Sumerian Religion in Light of Cuneiform Sources” was defended in the Department of Archeology at the College of Archeology, University of Mosul, on Monday, April 22, 2024. Part of it was attended by the Assistant Dean of the College for Scientific Affairs, Assistant Professor Dr. Yasser Jaber Khalil, and the department heads. Scientific studies and a number of college staff.
The thesis submitted by the student (Shahd Muhammad Jassim) dealt with highlighting the religious factor as it is considered one of the oldest human ideas and whose appearance was linked to the existence of man on earth. It constitutes the basic aspect of Mesopotamian civilization and has penetrated into the aspects of economic, political, intellectual and spiritual life.
The study touched on the emergence of religious ideas and beliefs, how to perform rituals such as fasting and prayer, performing hymns and holiday rituals, building and purifying temples and burial rituals, and offerings and vows.
The study concluded that the Sumerian individual worked hard to gain the favor of the gods and avoid their anger by performing religious rituals, especially prayer and supplication, offering sacrifices and vows, and glorifying the gods by singing religious hymns. It figured out how to perform these rituals on special occasions, holidays, building temples, etc.
The viva committee was chaired by Professor Dr. Yasmine Abdel Karim Muhammad Ali, Dean of the College of Archaeology, and the membership of Professor Dr. Fatima Abbas Salman from the University of Kufa/College of Archeology, and Assistant Professor Dr. Nabil Khaled Sheet, and with the supervision and membership of Assistant Professor Dr. Khaled Haider Othman.