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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the result of Enkidu and Gilgamesh's brutal battle?

2. Who is the king of the old gods?

3. On what medium where these myths originally found?

4. How does Good-Looks save Ishtar from Kurnugi?

5. When Nergal travels to the Underworld, to what story is the description of his descent similar?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the Armana version of the story of Nergal and Ereshkigal, what happens when Nergal goes to the Underworld?

2. How does Enkidu escape from the Underworld on an alternate tablet?

3. Why is Namtar sent above ground to the feast in the story of Nergal and Ereshkigal?

4. In the longer version of this story, what happens after Namtar fails to find Nergal outside of the Underworld?

5. What are some ways that Ellil punished mankind before the flood?

6. According to the story of Atrahasis, how and why was man created?

7. What reasons does Ereshkigal give for her anguish over losing Nergal?

8. Why does Belet-ili bring Enkidu to life?

9. After giving up on disease, how does Ellil try to keep the world from becoming overpopulated?

10. What reasons are given for the Mesopotamian myths becoming the basis of stories for several other cultures?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the role of respect in the stories of Mesopotamia in the following format:

Part 1) Nergal, Namtar, and Ereshkigal.

Part 2) Apsu and the younger gods.

Part 3) Marduk.

Part 4) Erra and Ishum.

Part 5) Adapa and the South Wind.

Using these stories, create a thesis to describe the importance of respect in Mesopotamian culture and why the stories make that clear.

Essay Topic 2

What role does sex play in both Mesopotamian myths and culture? How do the gods react towards sex? How does mankind? In what stories is sex an important topic? How is the deity in charge of sexuality portrayed? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the similarities between the Mesopotamian and Biblical flood myths in the following format:

Part 1) The over-indulgence and destruction of mankind.

Part 2) The similarities and differences of Noah and Atrahasis.

Part 3) The relationship between mankind and their god or gods.

Part 4) The final flood.

Part 5) The reconstruction of Earth and mankind.

(see the answer keys)

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