These deities formed a core pantheon; there were additionally hundreds of minor ones. Sumerian gods could thus have associations with different cities, and their religious importance often waxed and waned with those cities' political power. The gods were said to have created human beings from clay for the purpose of serving them. The temples organized the mass labour projects needed for irrigation agriculture. Citizens had a labor duty to the temple, though they could avoid it by a payment of silver. COUNT 5
QSN1 What did the Sumerian deities form? ANS1 a core pantheon QSN2 Why did the gods create human beings from clay? ANS2 for the purpose of serving them QSN3 What could Sumerian gods be associated with? ANS3 different cities QSN4 What did the religious importance of city gods wax and wan with? ANS4 those cities' political power QSN5 How could a citizen avoid their labor duty to their local temple? ANS5 a payment of silver