In Mesopotamian times, the Sumerians (people who lived in Mesopotamia) had various ways of entertaining themselves. They conducted activities which are related to the activities people do in the present age, they played music and hunted animals. This essay will show the differences in both activities which will be determined by their purpose, popularity and the equipments needed to perform these activities.
Everybody has to have a purpose on doing something, as we know the main purpose of playing music and hunting animals are to entertain people. Playing music had more than one purpose, according to http://ancientmesopotamia.wetpaint.com, 2008, Culture of people. “The songs were written for the gods but many were written to explain important events”. These songs were passed down from generations to generations. On the other hand the purpose of hunting was for the kings to show their ruling monarch and to practice their hunting skills, explained by Mechikoff & Estes, 2010, lion hunting “In ancient Assyria, lion-hunting was considered the sport of kings, symbolic of the ruling monarch’s duty to protect and fight for his people
Playing Music and hunting was popular among the Sumerians, according to http://ancientmesopotamia.wetpaint.com, 2008, Culture of people. “Music and songs made kings and rulers laugh, they were also enjoyed by regular people who liked to sing and dance in their homes or in the marketplaces.” However hunting was usually conducted by the warriors and the Assyria kings. Lion hunting was popular among the kings because it shows how skillful the kings were and that they had the power to rule.
Another noticeable different between Music and hunting is the equipment or instruments people used in order to carry out these activities. Historian had discovered many musical instruments that were used to play music in Mesopotamia. For example the Oud appears many times throughout Mesopotamian history. According to Erica Goode, 2008, A Fabled Instrument, Suppressed in Iraq thrives in Exile, “Construction of the Oud is similar to that of the lute. The back of the instrument is made of thin wood staves glued together on edge. Alternating staves of light and dark wood are often used. The instrument usually has an odd number of staves, the strings were made from metal, and most of the Oud instruments were made out of wood.” Therefore in hunting warriors and kings used more metal to make their equipments and weapons because it is obvious that metal is stronger than wood. Evidences were found that birds were used during hunting too.
It’s clear that Music is more popular and easier too make than hunting. Hunting back then shows that it’s a sport for only high ranked warriors and rulers of the land. Distinctly they both have their own advantages for a specific group of people in the society. In my opinion it’s really up to the luck people had, if they were born as a higher classed or lower classed, but it’s up to them that they enjoyed it or not.
References: https://cstl-hhs.semo.edu/dhbeard/pe238/.../mechikoff4e_ch02.ppt http://ancientmesopotamia.wetpaint.com
by : Nuey G.10A
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