Prayer, an intrinsic part of human culture, is as old as humanity itself. Across all times and in every culture, humans have sought to communicate with divine forces, asking for their needs or expressing their devotion. These ancient prayers offer us a window into the lives and beliefs of our ancestors, revealing their deepest hopes and fears. Through the remnants of these spiritual utterances, be they etched in stone, scrawled on papyrus, or recorded in ancient texts, we can glimpse the universal nature of the human experience.

This article invites readers to explore seven of the oldest prayers known to the world, each a testament to the enduring human need to seek connection with the transcendent.

Oldest Prayers in the World

1. The Sumerian Temple Hymns

The ancient civilization of Sumer, in Mesopotamia, is one of the earliest known societies to have left written records, many of which are prayers and hymns. One of the most important collections is the “Sumerian Temple Hymns,” attributed to the high priestess Enheduanna, who lived around 2300 BCE. These hymns are considered to be among the first author-attributed poems in history.

Enheduanna’s compositions are dedicated to the temples of Sumer and the deities that resided within them. The texts, written in cuneiform on clay tablets, invoke the gods and goddesses, asking for their blessings and protection. The poems stand not only as spiritual literature but also as political tools, uniting the region’s multitude of city-states under the spiritual stewardship of the high priestess and the king she served.

These hymns provide significant insight into the religious practices of the early Sumerians. Through these writings, we can discern the structure of Sumerian religious thought, the pantheon of gods and goddesses they worshipped, and the pivotal role that temples played in public and political life. The Sumerian Temple Hymns embody the intertwined nature of religion and government during this period, indicating the priestess’s importance in mediating between the gods and the people.

2. The Pyramid Texts of Ancient Egypt

The Pyramid Texts are a collection of ancient Egyptian religious texts carved into the walls of royal pyramids during the Old Kingdom period, dated to approximately 2400-2300 BCE. These are thought to be the oldest surviving religious texts in the world. They were intended to protect the pharaoh in the afterlife, ensuring their eternal existence among the gods.

Carved into the stone of the burial chambers, the Pyramid Texts consist of spells, hymns, and prayers. These texts provided instructions for the deceased ruler, guiding them through the journey beyond death, including the meeting with the great god Osiris, the lord of the underworld. The spells also served to deter malevolent forces and to affirm the divine status of the pharaoh.

The discovery of these texts has provided scholars with rich information about the religious and mythological concepts of ancient Egyptians, such as their beliefs in the afterlife, the soul’s immortality, and the gods’ influence over worldly and otherworldly realms. The Pyramid Texts are precious records of the spiritual and ritualistic practices observed over 4000 years ago.

3. The Rigveda of Hinduism

The Rigveda is one of the four sacred texts known as the Vedas that form the foundation of Hindu philosophy and practice. It is a collection of ancient Indian hymns composed in Sanskrit, with scholars estimating its origin to have been between 1500-1200 BCE. The Rigveda is not only a religious text but also a significant historical document, offering insights into early Indo-Aryan culture.

The hymns of the Rigveda are dedicated to a pantheon of deities and are meant to be chanted during sacrificial rites and ceremonial functions. Each hymn, or “sukta,” seeks the gods’ favor, beseeching them for blessings such as health, wealth, and victory in battle. The hymns also contain philosophical inquiries about the origins of the universe and the nature of the divine.

The Rigveda’s impact is profound as it remains an essential text in contemporary Hinduism. Its teachings continue to be a part of religious practice, and its hymns are recited at various ceremonies and festivals. Through the Rigveda, we can trace the roots of one of the world’s oldest living religions and appreciate its continuous influence.

4. The Homeric Hymns of Ancient Greece

The Homeric Hymns, a collection of poems attributed to Homer, were composed around 600-500 BCE. These hymns are not epic narratives like Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey”; instead, they are shorter poems meant to invoke and praise the various gods of the Greek pantheon, such as Zeus, Apollo, Hermes, and Aphrodite.

The hymns were used in religious ceremonies, likely chanted by rhapsodes (professional reciters) at festivals honoring the gods. The poems describe the attributes and the myths related to each deity, serving as both a form of worship and a means of transmitting religious stories and values from one generation to the next.

While scholars debate the actual authorship of these hymns, their importance lies in illustrating how the ancient Greeks expressed piety and sought divine intervention in their lives. Through the Homeric Hymns, we gain insight into the spiritual concepts and mythological worldview that shaped ancient Greek culture.

5. The Zoroastrian Gathas

The Gathas are the sacred hymns of Zoroastrianism, believed to have been composed by the religion’s prophet, Zoroaster (Zarathustra), himself, who is estimated to have lived between 1500-1000 BCE. These hymns form the core of the Zoroastrian liturgical texts known as the Avesta and are its most ancient part.

Composed in an old dialect of the Avestan language, the Gathas are a series of seventeen hymns that embody the teachings of Zoroaster. These teachings revolve around concepts of good and evil, the monotheistic worship of Ahura Mazda as the supreme deity, and the importance of individual choice in determining one’s fate after death.

The Gathas remain central to Zoroastrian worship today, recited during significant religious rituals. These ancient hymns are crucial for understanding the early dualistic cosmology that has influenced later religious and philosophical thought, and they showcase the long-standing tradition of hymnic prayer in human history.

6. The Book of Psalms

The Book of Psalms is a collection of religious songs, prayers, and poems, many of which are traditionally attributed to King David. They form part of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament, with their composition dating from around the 10th to the 5th centuries BCE. The Psalms are used in both Jewish and Christian religious practices and cover a range of human emotions from despair to jubilant praise.

Within the context of worship, the Psalms have various uses, including hymns for temple worship as well as personal and communal prayers. They express the human longing for God, the seeking of divine help and protection, and the joyous exaltation of the divine. Each Psalm, with its unique voice, speaks to the myriad facets of the religious experience.

Centuries later, the Psalms continue to be integral components of liturgical traditions. They are recited, sung, or chanted in practices across various sects and denominations, exemplifying their timeless appeal and the universal human connection to prayerful song and poetry.

7. The Shinto Norito

Norito are the ritual prayers of the Shinto religion, indigenous to Japan. These prayers have been recited since at least the 7th century CE, as evidenced by the earliest written Shinto texts, though their oral origins are certainly far older. Norito are recited by Shinto priests during religious ceremonies to invoke blessings from the kami, the divine spirits or gods in Shinto belief.

Shinto prayers are characterized by their focus on purity and are often recited to purify worship spaces or participants during ceremonies. They frequently involve offerings and are structured to show respect and reverence for the kami, as well as to express gratitude for the blessings received. The norito often end with a series of symbolic claps that are meant to summon the kami’s attention.

The recitation of norito remains an integral part of Shinto ceremonies today. These ancient prayer texts, while specific to the Japanese cultural and spiritual landscape, further illustrate the widespread practice of seeking a connection with the divine through the spoken word throughout human history.

Conclusion

The oldest prayers of the world offer a sense of continuity that spans across millennia, cultural changes, and geographic distances. From the earliest civilizations to the foundations of major world religions, these prayers reveal that the act of supplication, gratitude, and reverence towards a higher power is a shared aspect of human heritage.

By examining these prayers, we not only uncover the depth of our ancestors’ spiritual lives but also discover the common threads that run through our collective human story. Whether carved in stone, whispered in ancient temples, or sung in grand cathedrals, these prayers continue to echo with the hopes and fears, joys and sorrows of humanity. Through them, we remain connected to our past and affirm our ongoing search for spiritual understanding and connection.