@godflesh, Great article.It seems the Sumerian culture was set up mostly to benefit the Leader and the elites of that time. A sexy wife every year,what happened to the previous ones.Levies in foods,drinks,meat,fine clothes.Beer so the people would drink and forget their sorrows not forgetting Opium.Promise of a better life after death so the poor(which are a majority)would not rebel against the excesses of the elite few.Finally the mandatory death of the servants of the leader when he dies so he would have company in the hereafter.Am sure most of the Politicians of today would prefer to live in that time period.