How did ancient Mesopotamian view their gods and life after death?

Question

darrenmadx · Answer

For the Mesopotamian the afterlife was not particularly pleasant.  They believed that life after death meant a descent into an underworld ruled by the god Nergal.  They lived particularly difficult lives, and their ideas about the afterlife resembled the hardships they faced during their lives while still living, and they "wasted no time" preparing for the afterlife.  This is actually quite contrary to what usually occurs in that people who face tremendous hardships in life picture an afterlife in which their suffering is no more.  Evidently, Mesopotamians had very little hope