The Cults of Uruk and Babylon: The Temple Ritual Texts as Evidence for Hellenistic Cult Practice

Temple ritual texts from ancient Uruk and Babylon reveal that public cults remained significant in Hellenistic Mesopotamia, at least until the first century B.C. These texts, analyzed for their reliability as historical sources, provide detailed accounts of festivals, rituals, ceremonies, and offerings during this period. The study includes previously unpublished text fragments, offering new insights into Mesopotamian religious practices. The research demonstrates the active engagement of Mesopotamians in matters of religion and cult, highlighting the enduring importance of these practices despite Hellenistic influences.

Linssen (book author), M. J. H., & Steele (review author), J. M. (2015). The Cults of Uruk and Babylon: The Temple Ritual Texts as Evidence for Hellenistic Cult Practice. Aestimatio: Critical Reviews in the History of Science, 2, 7–10. https://doi.org/10.33137/aestimatio.v2i0.25732