Love had a very important place in ancient Mesopotamia. You may even have read the love of Inanna (Ancient Mesopotamian goddess / Sumerian love goddess) and Dumuzi (shepherd) from Muazzez İlmiye Çığ’s book ‘Inanna’s Love’. But there is an interesting situation that, in fact, marriage in these lands is not only for love, but for logic. Let’s look at the purpose of this marriage of logic together.
For the ancient Mesopotamians, marriage was important to ensure the continuation of the lineage and thus the stability of the society. In fact, the historian Herodotus says that marriage is so important for this cultural structure that that the marriage was commercialized even tells. For example, Herodotus speaks of “bridal auction markets” in Mesopotamia where women were sold to the highest bidder.
Although love always maintains its existence in these lands, it is made to protect the social order. purpose-driven marriages remained in the background. So why were these people making prenuptial contracts?
Even sexuality was used for a certain ‘interest’ beyond pleasure.
Herodotus sees women sitting in the temple of Inanna and a man passing by to their liking He talks about having sex with them. The reason for this was that the social structure expected people to engage in activities that would increase the fertility and welfare of the society, namely to have children.
The marriage was carried out on a legal contract based on the material exchange between the woman’s father and the groom.
In Mesopotamia, the groom paid bride price to the bride’s father, as is still the case in some cultures. So marriage is a thing in these cultures. ‘work’ We can say that money was at the forefront because it was perceived as such.
Stephen Bertman, who has studies of ancient cultures, says: In Sumerian, the word love was a compound verb with a tangible equivalent for measuring earth and land. Among the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians, marriage was seen as a business arrangement designed to secure both individual and society. The state doesn’t just want people to have relationships and be happy, as I mentioned above. reproduction and continuity of culture. cared about their supply.
Let’s say there are two people who love each other and they want to get married, then they have to abide by the contract or it would not be possible for them to get married. For example, in Mesopotamian law, a man’s preparation of a marriage contract (contract) and both parties their families must approve There was a law against it. Otherwise, the woman cannot be the wife of the man who wants her, because this is against the law.
Just like in today’s marriages, people would sign this contract (you can think of it like a wedding certificate now) in the presence of people who would witness their marriage, and the wedding preparations would begin. After the wedding The bride moved to her father-in-law’s house, had intercourse with the groom, and was expected to become pregnant. Moreover, attention was paid to the fact that the bride was a virgin. Legally, if the bride did not become pregnant or virgin, the groom had the right to send the woman back to his family and demand the dowry money he had given.
In ancient Mesopotamia, disloyalty meant punishment.
Goddess Inanna
Men who were unfaithful to their wives, as historian Jean Bottero puts it, included the death penalty if their crimes were revealed. to various penalties. they were subjected. The essence of the word; I can say that any kind of behavior that will harm family unity is not accepted in this culture.
According to researchers, ancient inscriptions report that women ran away from their husbands to sleep with other men. If these people are caught red-handed; The woman is thrown into the river with her lover so that she dies by drowning or is killed by hanging on a pole. The law is already the law of those who do this behavior be executed or pardoned According to the Code of Hammurabi, this issue of forgiveness could only come into effect with the forgiveness of the woman’s official husband. Thus, the king can forgive the woman and her lover, according to the decision of the husband.
Hammurabi
Even a woman giving birth to a child It was so important that if she couldn’t get pregnant due to infertility or any other reason, her husband could take a second woman for himself. The first wife was consulted in the selection of the second wife, and the second woman they chose was expected to follow the order of the first woman. When you look at it, you can understand that the second wife is like the concubine of the first. Because the child that this woman will give birth to was considered the child of the first woman. Since a man’s desire to get a divorce because his wife could not get pregnant was not accepted by the society, such a solution was found. man till he dies stay married to that woman and on the one hand, he had to ensure the continuation of his lineage with the concubines he brought home.
Divorce is still a taboo for most people today. It was the same in ancient Mesopotamia!
Divorce is a serious problem in these lands. social stigma We could say it was the reason. Even though most people were not happy with their marriage, they had to be with their partner until the grave. The demand and right to divorce was reserved primarily for men. Women could only benefit from this right when they were abused. In any case, female individuals could not easily express their desire for divorce because her husband could kick her out of the house.
Goddess Inanna and Dumuzi
In fact, I think that in the past, women may have swallowed the desire for divorce because of the fear of being disgraced in front of the society. In short, as you can see, behind all these rules that are valid in marriage lies a contract (contract) that both parties start as if they are starting a contracted business, both materially and morally. So that marriage is not individual, a ritual performed for social purposes I’d say it’s transforming. How did you find the Ancient Mesopotamians’ perspective on marriage? Do you think we can find traces of today? You can write your thoughts in the comments.
Resources: World History, Traveling in a Minute, Swallow’s Nest