The Pagan World: Ancient Religions Before Christianity

Exploring the ways in which the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia try to understand, worship and cultivate supernatural forces in the world around them; how the Enuma Elish, the great Mesopotamian creation myth, mirrors current human concerns.

The early religions of India are still thriving; exploring the ancient Rigveda, one of the four sacred texts of modern Hinduism; an ancient collection of Sanskrit hymns, it is alive with riddles and paradoxes that leave room for speculation.

How the Egyptian Book of the Dead and a pyramid inscription reveal the existence of the creator god Atum; what happens to Atum when the cities of Memphis and Karnak rise to power; how political power and religion are interwoven in ancient Egypt.

Greek gods and goddesses form the basis of religion in ancient Greece; learning about this relationship between myth and religion; exploring the puzzle of Zeus; whether Zeus could be a single god with many "persons" or many different gods.

The daily life of the ancient Athenian family is dominated by the gods who protect and bless their homes; the many ways in which these household gods are woven into the fabric of daily life; who is responsible for the household religious activities.

Animal sacrifice plays a central role in the relationship between people and their gods; the required elements for an honorific, atoning or sacramental animal sacrifice; how the sacrifice benefits those involved; what the gods require of the animal.