Final answer:
In ancient Mesopotamia, the gods controlled all aspects of life, and the priests played a crucial role in appeasing them. The gods were associated with natural forces and celestial bodies, and the Mesopotamians believed they could predict astronomical events.
Step-by-step explanation:
In ancient Mesopotamia, the gods were believed to control all aspects of life. The priests played a major role in soothing and assuaging the gods to prevent them from causing disasters like floods or plagues. The priests' main duty was to beg the gods for mercy on behalf of the people.
In Mesopotamian cultures, the gods were believed to be capricious and easily offended. Humans were created to serve the gods by offering them food, building temples, and honoring them with rituals. Failure to worship the gods properly could result in death and devastation.
The Mesopotamians observed that the gods were associated with natural forces and celestial bodies. They believed that the gods were visible in the sky as stars, the moon, the sun, and the planets. The Mesopotamians paid close attention to these celestial bodies and developed an understanding of their movement, which enabled them to predict astronomical events.