{"id":122,"date":"2020-09-25T21:22:43","date_gmt":"2020-09-25T21:22:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/?page_id=122"},"modified":"2024-08-25T00:04:54","modified_gmt":"2024-08-25T00:04:54","slug":"ancient-religions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/learning-units\/ancient-religions\/","title":{"rendered":"Monotheism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p id=\"block-3817c2f4-7353-4677-b5d3-cb2ee4e930ec\"><strong>Lesson Objectives:<\/strong> In this unit, students will learn about monotheism as it distinguished ancient Israelites and their polytheistic neighbors. They will discuss the centrality of the first and second commandments to ancient and contemporary Judaism. During this unit\u2019s hands-on project, students will make their own cylinder seals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" id=\"block-77347b1f-9684-4373-b111-f6320d005a85\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\" class=\"underline\">Guiding Thematic Questions:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What are the first and second commandments?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is monotheism? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In what ways is monotheism an important aspect of Jewish identity and practice?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\" class=\"underline\">Historical Context:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There were many religions in the Ancient Middle East. Most of these religions were Polytheistic in nature, meaning multiple gods were worshipped. Some well known polytheistic pantheons include the Sumerian gods, Egyptian gods, ancient Greek and Roman pantheon, and Norse pantheon.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Israelites were set apart from their neighbors by their religious practices. Ancient Israelite religion, however, was originally polytheistic, worshipping deities including El, Baal, Asherah, and Astarte. As their beliefs evolved, they became increasingly opposed to the worship of other gods and, at the beginning of the Babylonian captivity, a group of priests and scribes established the practice of monotheism\u2013 the conception of a singular Jewish God\u2013 as essential to Judaism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many cylinder seals have images of ancient gods or animals. They are often made of precious materials, some of which were valued for being protective or healing. Most seals have a hole through their center, so that they might be worn on a necklace. Cylinder seals could function as a person\u2019s signature. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Incantation Bowls were used in ancient magic to protect against evil influences. Jewish incantation bowls from ancient Babylon often quote rabbinic texts and are written a form of Aramaic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\" class=\"underline\">Fun Facts:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In many polytheistic religions, deities were connected with animals. This is why votive statues and amulets often depict an animal in dedication to a specific god or goddess so as to bring the favor of that god to the person who owns it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>According to 1 Kings 11:5, one of King Solomon\u2019s wives followed Astarte, a goddess of war and love in ancient Phonecian and Canaanite cultures. Depicted on the cylinder seal in this unit is Astarte entering the underworld.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/learning-units\/ancient-religions\/hebrew-resources-ancient-religions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hebrew Resources: Monotheism<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-4fe15c57-7a47-4387-ba33-51f32f89b37e\">Object Images:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"820\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2010_027_001_G_SCR-editeed-1-820x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-991 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2010_027_001_G_SCR-editeed-1-820x1024.jpg 820w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2010_027_001_G_SCR-editeed-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2010_027_001_G_SCR-editeed-1-768x959.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2010_027_001_G_SCR-editeed-1.jpg 961w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p style=\"font-size:17px\"><strong>Head of Deity<\/strong><br>Mesopotamian, Babylonian<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:17px\">1894-1600 BCE<br>Clay, pigment<br>4.5\u201d tall<br>Carlos Museum, Emory University<br>2010.27.1<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:28px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"679\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2002_019_001_B_SCR-edited-679x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-993 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2002_019_001_B_SCR-edited-679x1024.jpg 679w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2002_019_001_B_SCR-edited-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2002_019_001_B_SCR-edited-768x1158.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2002_019_001_B_SCR-edited.jpg 796w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 679px) 100vw, 679px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p style=\"font-size:17px\"><strong>Smiting god (possibly Ba\u2019al)<\/strong><br>Canaanite<br>2000-1600 BCE<br>Bronze<br>7.5\u201d tall<br>Carlos Museum, Emory University<br>2002.19.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"881\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2008_028_001_B_SCR-edited-881x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-995 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2008_028_001_B_SCR-edited-881x1024.jpg 881w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2008_028_001_B_SCR-edited-258x300.jpg 258w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2008_028_001_B_SCR-edited-768x892.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2024\/08\/2008_028_001_B_SCR-edited.jpg 1033w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 881px) 100vw, 881px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p style=\"font-size:17px\"><strong>Altar with four figures of Ram-headed god<\/strong><br>Phoenician<br>1st Millennium BCE<br>Silver<br>1.5\u201d x 1.25\u201d<br>Carlos Museum, Emory University<br>2008.28.1<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2008_045_001_B_ARC-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-493 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2008_045_001_B_ARC-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2008_045_001_B_ARC-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2008_045_001_B_ARC-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2008_045_001_B_ARC-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2008_045_001_B_ARC.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Cylinder Seal and roll-out impression: Astarte entering the underworld<\/strong><br>2000-1600 BCE<br>Quartz (Jasper)<br>1.5\u201d tall<br>Carlos Museum, Emory University<br>2008.43.1<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"934\" src=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2007_007_001_A-1024x934.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-494 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2007_007_001_A-1024x934.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2007_007_001_A-300x274.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2007_007_001_A-768x701.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2007_007_001_A-329x300.jpg 329w, https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2020\/12\/2007_007_001_A.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Incantation Bowl<\/strong><br \/>600-651 CE<br \/>Ceramic<br \/>7\u201d diameter<br \/>Carlos Museum, Emory University<br \/>2007.7.1<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Classroom Discussion Questions:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>What is the importance of the first commandment?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How was early Judaism different from other contemporary religions? How does modern Judaism compare with other religions today?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What are the 3 main monotheistic religions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What are cylinder seals?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a href=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2021\/06\/Monotheism-Ancient-Religions-and-Idolatry.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download>Monotheism Worksheet<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-1f1be84a-1c95-42d5-8555-180d9d409f37\">Project: Cylinder Seals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-f454c02a-05d3-41a7-94b8-1088fb23b0db\">Materials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>clay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>toothpick or other carving implement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>string (optional)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>play-dough\/wet clay<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-2d812a07-b2dd-4bc5-8ec0-a99cd1f3a7c5\">Instructions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>choose a symbol of Judaism, a family image, or another identifier for your cylinder seal. you can also choose more generic patterns for the design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>roll the clay into a cylindrical shape and carve your design with a toothpick or other implement. remember that the seal should be backwards so that when it&#8217;s rolled onto the clay it comes out facing the right way. you may poke a hole through the seal for threading a string through once it&#8217;s dried<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>bake the clay in an oven according to instructions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>you may thread a piece of string through the seal if desired<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>once dried, you can press the seal into wet clay to reveal your design<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"720\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1280 \/ 720;\" width=\"1280\" controls src=\"http:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/files\/2021\/05\/cylinder-seal.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lesson Objectives: In this unit, students will learn about monotheism as it distinguished ancient Israelites and their polytheistic neighbors. They will discuss the centrality of the first and second commandments to ancient and contemporary Judaism. During this unit\u2019s hands-on project, students will make their own cylinder seals. Guiding Thematic Questions: Historical Context: Fun Facts: Object&#8230; <\/p>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/learning-units\/ancient-religions\/\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":6994,"featured_media":0,"parent":83,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-122","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6994"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=122"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1000,"href":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/122\/revisions\/1000"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/83"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/ancientartifactactivities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}