As part of its efforts to promote educational awareness, the Women's Affairs Division at Al-Mustaqbal University organized a seminar titled *“A Comparison Between the Historical Reality of Women and Their Symbolic Image in Mesopotamian Thought”* on (13/09/2025). The seminar was presented by Assistant Lecturer Ria Nassif Jassim from the College of Arts and Humanities / Department of Archaeology.
The seminar explored the position of women in Mesopotamian civilization from two complementary perspectives: their historical reality and their symbolic representation in texts and myths.
From a historical perspective, the seminar indicated that women in Mesopotamia played multiple roles in society, including domestic labor, economic activities, participation in religious rituals, and at times, holding influential positions within the palace or temple. However, these roles varied depending on social class and historical period, with women also facing legal and social constraints that limited their independence.
Symbolically, the image of women was strongly reflected in Mesopotamian thought and mythology, where they were associated with fertility, life, love, and power through deities such as Inanna/Ishtar and others. These symbols portrayed women as cosmic forces of influence, embodying dual dimensions: they were givers of life and fertility, yet also capable of destruction and punishment.
The seminar highlighted the contradiction between the lived reality of women—often marked by restriction and male dominance—and their symbolic image that embodied power, sanctity, and influence. It concluded that studying this contrast sheds light on the depth of Mesopotamian thought in perceiving the status of women and provides a clearer understanding of the cultural roots of later perceptions of women.
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