Originally a series of five lectures delivered at Harvard University, this book is an early attempt to tackle a formidable subject: the religion of ancient Iraq, or Mesopotamia. Rogerss rare work begins with a summary of the rediscovery of the religions of Babylonia and Assyria. The divine world of these ancient empires is uncovered through an exploration of their gods and cosmologies. The ancient Akkadian culture is well known for its collection of sacred texts in the form of clay tablets. Rogers considers their role in the religion of this region. This informative presentation concludes with consideration of the myths and epics of Mesopotamia, many of which are still required reading in school literary programs. All subsequent explorations of this subject owe a debt of gratitude to this pioneering study.