The priestly system in Mesopotamia and its impact on the priesthood of ancient Syria

Abstract

This study deals with the study of The priestly system in Mesopotamia and its impact on the priesthood of the ancient peoples of Syria, And highlights the importance of the priestly system through the tasks and functions that were performed by priests in Mesopotamia, And to address their living conditions and their position in society, and to study the factors that transfer that effect to the ancient countries of Syria that received it and made some additions to it in accordance with its environment and its political, social and linguistic specificity. The research includes a number of topics, preceded by a preliminary, the first topic displays the types of priests and priestesses and their degrees and functions, starting with priests of the first degree (Sinka) who represent great priests, and priests of the second degree (orecallo), who are the priests of the mass, or what they are called the gatekeepers of the temple gate, and the priests of the third degree (the specialists), and they are of the types (purifying, those who specialize in spells and the expulsion of demons, who specialize in prediction and reading the unseen and interpreters, and those specialized in performing chants and prayers), There is another type of priests who occupy the lowest rank and do not perform distinguished works, among them are eunuch priests, and other common priests who are entitled to enter the temple permanently, The second topic talks about priests and magic, while the third topic deals with the issue of priests and divination and explains their types and methods, the most important of which is practical divination, magic divination through examination of the liver and guts of sacrificed animals, divination through astrology, and dream interpretation. It has been found through research that the fortune-telling in Mesopotamia has developed a lot and directly affected the neighboring peoples, especially ancient Syria, through economic and political factors that have contributed effectively to the transfer of the manifestations of Mesopotamia's civilization, particularly the intellectual and religious cultural aspect.