Ancient Religious History
Explore the foundations of human religious thought and practice from prehistory through classical antiquity
Prehistoric Religion
Early religious practices and beliefs (before 3000 BCE)
- Cave art and religious symbolism
- Burial practices and afterlife beliefs
- Early ritual sites and structures
- Goddess worship and fertility cults
Ancient Mesopotamia
Religious traditions of Sumer, Babylon, and Assyria (3000-539 BCE)
- Sumerian pantheon and mythology
- Babylonian religious texts
- Temple architecture and priesthood
- Creation myths and epic literature
Ancient Egypt
Egyptian religious traditions and practices (3000-30 BCE)
- Egyptian pantheon and mythology
- Pyramid texts and Book of the Dead
- Temple complexes and priesthood
- Pharaonic religion and divine kingship
Ancient India
Early Indian religious traditions (1500-500 BCE)
- Vedic religion and rituals
- Early Upanishadic philosophy
- Development of Brahmanism
- Origins of Buddhism and Jainism
Ancient China
Early Chinese religious traditions (2000-221 BCE)
- Oracle bone divination
- Ancestor worship
- Development of Confucianism
- Early Daoist traditions
Ancient Greece
Greek religious traditions and mythology (800-146 BCE)
- Greek pantheon and mythology
- Mystery cults and oracles
- Temple architecture and festivals
- Philosophical approaches to religion
Research Methods in Ancient Religious History
- Archaeological evidence interpretation
- Analysis of primary textual sources
- Comparative mythology and religious studies
- Historical linguistics and philology
Key Resources
- Archaeological reports and findings
- Ancient texts and inscriptions
- Material culture and artifacts
- Contemporary scholarly research