{"id":4198,"date":"2026-04-27T06:40:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T06:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/marduk\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:24:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:24:34","slug":"marduk","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/marduk\/","title":{"rendered":"Marduk"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"4198\" class=\"elementor elementor-4198 elementor-1880 elementor-bc-flex-widget\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10fdade e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"10fdade\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herohlft0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herohlft0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3ceb64 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c3ceb64\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96ae5e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"96ae5e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Marduk, god of the Mesopotamian tradition<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e45238a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e45238a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Chief god of Babylon and imperial god of the Babylonian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">pantheon<\/span>, risen from a local city god to the highest divine authority. Marduk stands at the centre of the Mesopotamian divine order as the victor in the struggle against chaos and creator of the ordered world.<\/p><p>His rise from city god of Babylon to Babylonian high god mirrors the political expansion of Babylon under Hammurabi and is anchored literarily in the Enuma Elish, the Babylonian creation epic.<\/p><p>Marduk is regarded as the tamer of chaos in Mesopotamian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The body of transmitted divine narratives of a culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klsbdg01 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"klsbdg01\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klshtm01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"klshtm01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwg-pill-row\"><span class=\"iwg-klasse-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"God \/ Goddess: Personified highest power in the pantheon of a culture, with clear responsibilities, forces of nature, fate, war, fertility. Venerated through cults, offerings and temple institutions.\">God<\/span><a href=\"\/en\/mesopotamia\/\" class=\"iwg-kultur-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Cradle of documented religion: Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, Assyria (ca. 3500 BCE to 330 BCE).\">Mesopotamia<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/high-deities\/\" class=\"iwg-tradition-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Highest gods of a pantheon, cosmic sovereignty, creator or ruler aspect.\">High deity<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f74855 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3f74855\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c30362 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"1c30362\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;Es wurden keine \\u00dcberschriften auf dieser Seite gefunden.&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-circle&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;,&quot;rendered_tag&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-circle\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 512 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;},&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herorght0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herorght0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-heroimg00 iwg-hero-image elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"heroimg00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_marduk-683x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4199\" alt=\"Marduk, gods from the Mesopotamian tradition, historical and illustrative\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_marduk-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_marduk-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_marduk-768x1152.webp 768w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_marduk.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32917199 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"32917199\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26e916cb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"26e916cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-253a40d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"253a40d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1200c304 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1200c304\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Marduk<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-159dcf9a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"159dcf9a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48cee66f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"48cee66f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Brief profile: Marduk<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f50d82c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f50d82c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Type:<\/strong> Mesopotamian chief <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span>, imperial god of Babylon<br><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">Pantheon<\/span>: Babylon (chief god of the Babylonian pantheon), Assur (secondarily as Bel)<br>Function: creation, kingship, storm, justice, economy<br>Main attributes: winged dragon (Mushhushshu), spade (marru), tall horned diadem<br>Main <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> sites: Babylon (Esagila <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building dedicated to the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> with Etemenanki ziggurat), Borsippa (son Nabu)<br>Astronomical identification: Jupiter (Salbatu)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18613602 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"18613602\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-262b8a9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"262b8a9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Context<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46dcb7d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"46dcb7d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61d3ab3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"61d3ab3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-117c166 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"117c166\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Period of the texts<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73997a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73997a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Marduk is attested since the Old Babylonian period (early 2nd millennium BCE) as a local city deity of Babylon. The main rise occurred under Hammurabi (ca. 1750 BCE) to become an imperial deity. In the Neo-Babylonian Empire (Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar II) he was the absolute chief god.<\/p><p>The <em>Enuma Elish<\/em> (creation epic, 12th century BCE) establishes Marduk as creator of the world from the chaos dragon Tiamat. His <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building dedicated to the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> complex <em>Esagila<\/em> with the ziggurat <em>Etemenanki<\/em> (the &#8220;Tower of Babel&#8221;) was one of the wonders of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Epoch of Greek and Roman culture, roughly 800 BCE to 600 CE.\" tabindex=\"0\">antiquity<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d47b156 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d47b156\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff38c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff38c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Area of distribution<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e49fcc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e49fcc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The principal cult site was <strong>Babylon<\/strong> with the <em>Esagila<\/em> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building dedicated to the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> and the ziggurat <em>Etemenanki<\/em>. In addition, Borsippa (<span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building dedicated to the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> of his son Nabu), Sippar, and Nineveh (secondary).<\/p><p>The annual <em>Akitu<\/em> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A solemn religious procession.\" tabindex=\"0\">procession<\/span> (New Year festival, in the month of Nisan) was the greatest Babylonian public festival; Marduk travelled in a solemn <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A solemn religious procession.\" tabindex=\"0\">procession<\/span> through the city, and the king renewed his mandate. With the Achaemenid and Seleucid periods came decline; in the 1st century CE the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> died out.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db03c39 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"db03c39\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229a87b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"229a87b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f471fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f471fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sources<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36b1201 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36b1201\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Central sources: the <em>Enuma Elish<\/em> (creation epic, 7 tablets), the <em>Hammurabi <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An upright inscribed or pictorial stone or wooden slab.\" tabindex=\"0\">stele<\/span><\/em> (Marduk&#8217;s conferral of power), <em>Erra<\/em> epic, Neo-Babylonian royal inscriptions (Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar II, Nabonidus). Secondary literature: Lambert, <em>Babylonian Creation Myths<\/em>; Sommerfeld, <em>Der Aufstieg Marduks<\/em>; Bott\u00e9ro, <em>La plus vieille <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The academic discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">religion<\/span><\/em>; Black\/Green, <em>Gods, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">Demons<\/span> and Symbols<\/em>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ae0637c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3ae0637c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31d07739 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"31d07739\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Designation and spellings<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7642947 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b7642947\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a086266 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a086266\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Akkadian:<\/strong> Marduk (MAR.DUK in cuneiform); possible origin: &#8220;calf of Utu&#8221; or &#8220;son of the light&#8221;; the etymology is contested. Epithets: <em>Bel<\/em> (&#8220;lord,&#8221; the later standard designation, especially in the Hellenistic phase), <em>Merodach<\/em> (Greek transliteration), <em>Lugal-dimmer-ankia<\/em> (Sumerian equivalent: &#8220;king of the gods of the land&#8221;).<\/p><p><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The academic study of God and the doctrines of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">Theological<\/span> 50 names: in the Enuma Elish, Marduk is granted 50 names, each one an assumption of the functions of other Babylonian gods, a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> of his supremacy. Biblical reception: &#8220;Bel&#8221; in Jeremiah and Daniel; &#8220;Merodach&#8221; as the name of an <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An image or statue venerated as divine.\" tabindex=\"0\">idol<\/span> in Hellenistic sources.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-709a44a8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"709a44a8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f585873 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2f585873\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Description<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70621c12 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"70621c12\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4296eb49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4296eb49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Appearance<\/strong><\/p><p>Marduk is typically depicted as a mature, bearded man, enthroned or striding, in royal garb. He wears the horned crown (<em>agus<\/em>) as a mark of his divinity. A halo surrounds his head.<\/p><p>In his hands he holds the spade <em>Marru<\/em>, the implement of creation and order, or a sceptre. The Mushhushshu dragon (also called Sirrush), a seven-headed creature with the forelegs of a lion and the hindlegs of a duck, serves him as mount or guardian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An incorporeal being to which effects in the world are attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">spirit<\/span>.<\/p><p><strong>Nature and activity<\/strong><\/p><p>Marduk is not a primordial creator but the orderer of chaos. In the Enuma Elish he fights against the primal goddess Tiamat, defeats her, and creates heaven and earth from her body. By this he establishes the cosmos-ordering view of the world.<\/p><p>He is the guardian of justice, judge of the gods and protector of human order. As city god of Babylon he shaped the public <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A regulated sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritual<\/span>, above all the Akitu New Year festival, at which his supremacy was annually renewed.<\/p><p><strong>Appearance and symbolism<\/strong><\/p><p><em>Marduk<\/em> is depicted as a powerful, bearded man with a tall crown (the <em>Marru<\/em>) and robes that display his royal authority. He bears a golden sceptre and is often surrounded by golden or silver auras. At his side he carries the flaming sword or other weapons of war.<\/p><p>In his creative form he is often portrayed with a kind of creative light or energy. His <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to the divine and thereby withdrawn from everyday use.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacred<\/span> animal is the dragon <em>Tiamat<\/em> (or the five-headed dragon <em>Ushum<\/em>), a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> of his dominance over chaotic force.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44e71476 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"44e71476\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c1fc3f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3c1fc3f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Profile: Marduk<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84f33b8e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"84f33b8e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-hqkdc67p elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"hqkdc67p\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most important aspects of Marduk at a glance. The following fields summarise origin, function, appearance, veneration, symbols and parallels.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-qh9oavvu iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"qh9oavvu\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-awzx8k2k elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"awzx8k2k\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tradition<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-x6rowhv0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"x6rowhv0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Marduk is the son of <em>Ea<\/em> (Enki, the water god) and <em>Damkina<\/em>. In the <em>Enuma Elish<\/em> he is the hero of the younger generation of gods, who fights against the primal goddess <em>Tiamat<\/em> (the chaos dragon) and defeats her; from her body he creates heaven and earth.<\/p><p>He is the father of <em>Nabu<\/em> (the scribe god) and consort of <em>Sarpanitu<\/em>. In his rise to imperial deity he receives the <em>50 names<\/em>, which ascribe to him the functions of all other gods (theogonic consolidation).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e3o4kxs iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8e3o4kxs\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08rkdgov elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"08rkdgov\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Marduk's function<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-uwjelx8s elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"uwjelx8s\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Imperial god of Babylon; every king received his power from Marduk&#8217;s hand. Creator of the world (in the Enuma Elish), guarantor of cosmic order. Patron of the economy and prosperity of Babylon.<\/p><p>Storm and weather god (in his older local role). In personal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> also <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitionary or invocational address of a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invocation<\/span> for protection against illness, crime and demonic affliction; his star (Jupiter) was regarded as auspicious.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-jm2n74ec iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"jm2n74ec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8vufse4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8vufse4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Representation<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-mwb9u015 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"mwb9u015\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Anthropomorphic, as a bearded male figure with a tall horned diadem and a long, multi-layered robe. Characteristic attributes: <em>spade<\/em> (marru, his insignia, originally a farmer&#8217;s tool, then a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> of the creator), bow, arrows, sword.<\/p><p>Companion animal: the <em>Mushhushshu<\/em> dragon (a snake, lion, bird <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being that unites features of different living creatures.\" tabindex=\"0\">composite creature<\/span>), the most famous Marduk <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> on the Ishtar Gate of Babylon. On Neo-Babylonian reliefs he frequently stands with the spade in his hand.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37ss2yr6 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"37ss2yr6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3v0wp3wx elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3v0wp3wx\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Marduk's veneration<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w3247g2m elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w3247g2m\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Sphere of effect:<\/strong> Marduk was <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitioning or invoking address to a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invoked<\/span> as chief god of Babylon in all areas, from the royal mandate through the annual Akitu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A solemn religious procession.\" tabindex=\"0\">procession<\/span> to personal protection. Esagila was a destination of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A religiously motivated journey to a sacred site.\" tabindex=\"0\">pilgrimage<\/span> from across the empire.<\/p><p>The king received his confirmation in the annual Akitu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A regulated sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritual<\/span>: he was humiliated by the high priest, then reinstated in his office through Marduk&#8217;s hand. The most important personal rites: petitionary prayers in illness, prayers of protection in personal crisis.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0qpjal9w iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0qpjal9w\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ndoih0o elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ndoih0o\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Marduk's symbols<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6684tyh9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6684tyh9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Spade (marru), tall horned diadem, bow, arrows, sword, Mushhushshu dragon (companion animal), Esagila <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building dedicated to the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span>, Etemenanki ziggurat, winged sun disk (in some traditions). Sacred plant: tamarisk. Sacred star: Jupiter. Sacred number: 50 (the Marduk names).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3lfi7x32 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3lfi7x32\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0kg99ga1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0kg99ga1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Comparable figures<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-n0fum6kp elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"n0fum6kp\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Bel<\/em> (Assyrian form of address, meaning simply &#8220;lord&#8221;), <em>Ashur<\/em> (Assyria, the Assyrian counterpart as imperial god), <em>Anu<\/em> (Mesopotamia, older father of the pantheon), <em>Iuppiter Optimus Maximus<\/em> (Rome, identified astronomically through Jupiter), <em>Zeus<\/em> (Greece, imperial and thunder god parallel), <em>Indra<\/em> (Hinduism, king of the gods with thunder and lightning), <em>Thor<\/em> (Germanic, partial), <em>Hadad \/ Adad<\/em> (Mesopotamia, weather god aspect).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7533bc7a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7533bc7a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2447d18d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2447d18d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Veneration in everyday life<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5d0260c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d5d0260c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-341be2ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"341be2ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Marduk was primarily a god of the state cult, not a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> of personal salvation or mystery rites. In the public sphere his veneration was decisive: royal accessions invoked Marduk&#8217;s <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The pronouncement of welfare and protection, often in fixed linguistic form.\" tabindex=\"0\">blessing<\/span>, contracts were concluded under Marduk&#8217;s eye, and oath formulas named him as overseer.<\/p><p>In the private household Marduk played a less central role. Personal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The lived religious attitude and practice of a person.\" tabindex=\"0\">piety<\/span> was directed more towards protective <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A bodiless being to which agency in the world is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">spirits<\/span>, the goddess Ishtar or the healing god Gula. Yet many Babylonians bore names containing &#8220;Marduk&#8221; (for example Merodach-Baladan: &#8220;Marduk has given a son&#8221;), an expression of the theological integration of Marduk into everyday thinking.<\/p><p>At the Akitu festival, the New Year festival, town and country celebrated the renewal of Marduk&#8217;s rule over the world; participation in the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A solemn religious procession.\" tabindex=\"0\">procession<\/span> was an obligation for every Babylonian.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a584676 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5a584676\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d0757bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d0757bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Marduk, parallels in other cultures<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60563f68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"60563f68\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a93fdd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a93fdd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Greek <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span>:<\/strong> Zeus as high deity and ruler over heaven and order. Both are not primordial creators but orderers of chaos after a battle against the older generation of gods. The thunderbolt function is more pronounced with Zeus, but the aspect of cosmic legal order is common to both.<\/p><p><strong>Vedic and Hindu tradition:<\/strong> Indra as thunder god and leader of the Devas. The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A recurring thematic element in art or narrative.\" tabindex=\"0\">motif<\/span> of the dragon fight (Indra against Vritra) is a fundamental parallel element of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>. Indra likewise bears a thunderbolt (Vajra) and is the guardian of cosmic order (Rta).<\/p><p><strong>Egyptian tradition:<\/strong> Ra as sun god and seat of Maat (world order). While Marduk subdues chaos through a perpetrator combat narrative, in the case of Ra this happens in the cyclical nocturnal journey (battle against the serpent Apophis). The theological model, creator deity as orderer, is similar.<\/p><p><strong>Hittite tradition:<\/strong> Teshub as weather god and high deity, known from the Kumarbi <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>, shares the dragon fight <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A recurring thematic element in art or narrative.\" tabindex=\"0\">motif<\/span> with Marduk. Teshub&#8217;s battle against the serpent Illuyanka is a parallel to the Tiamat <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp6874574 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp6874574\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpb3658ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpb3658ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Enuma Elish: the Babylonian creation epic<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp3f37203 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp3f37203\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpa527e77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cpa527e77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most important source for Marduk&#8217;s rank is the Babylonian creation epic, named after its opening words <em>Enuma Elish<\/em> (&#8220;When on high&#8221;). It is transmitted on seven clay tablets, most of which come from the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal at Nineveh, though they preserve older material.<\/p><p>The exact time of composition is disputed; much speaks for a composition in the second millennium BCE, possibly in the Old Babylonian or Middle Babylonian period.<\/p><p>The epic describes how, from the primal waters embodied by <a href=\"\/en\/tiamat\/\">Tiamat<\/a> and Apsu, the gods arise. When Tiamat declares war on the younger gods and raises an army of monsters, none of the older gods dares to confront her. Marduk declares himself willing, but demands as his price the highest royal rank among the gods.<\/p><p>The assembly of the gods grants him this position. Marduk defeats Tiamat in single combat, splits her body and forms heaven and earth from the two halves.<\/p><p>From the blood of the leader of the opposing gods, Kingu, humankind is created so that it may serve the gods. In conclusion, the gods build for Marduk the city of Babylon with the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building dedicated to the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> of Esagila.<\/p><p>The <em>Enuma Elish<\/em> is therefore less a neutral account of creation than a theological justification for the primacy of Babylon and Marduk. It explains why the world is ordered as it is, and why Babylon of all places should be its centre.<\/p><p>Tablet seven consists almost entirely of a litany of the fifty names of Marduk, in which the functions of other gods are attributed to him.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpab7c6b1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cpab7c6b1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp922795f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp922795f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Esagila and Etemenanki: Marduk's temple and the Tower of Babel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpf75bb56 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cpf75bb56\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpd1621ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cpd1621ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Marduk&#8217;s <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> was spatially bound to Babylon. His principal temple was called <em>Esagila<\/em>, &#8220;house whose top is high&#8221;. Next to it stood the stepped tower <em>Etemenanki<\/em>, &#8220;house of the foundation of heaven and earth&#8221;, a ziggurat conceived as a connection between the spheres.<\/p><p><em>Etemenanki<\/em> is regarded by scholarship as the probable real model for the biblical narrative of the Tower of Babel.<\/p><p>The archaeological remains are heavily destroyed by <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Epoch of Greek and Roman culture, roughly 800 BCE to 600 CE.\" tabindex=\"0\">ancient<\/span> dismantling and modern interventions, yet <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Epoch of Greek and Roman culture, roughly 800 BCE to 600 CE.\" tabindex=\"0\">ancient<\/span> descriptions, for example in Herodotus, and cuneiform texts allow an approximate reconstruction. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II had the complex generously extended in the 6th century BCE.<\/p><p>In the Esagila stood the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Pictorial representation of a deity venerated in the temple or shrine.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult image<\/span> of Marduk. This image was so closely bound up with the identity of the city that its abduction by enemies, for example by the Hittites and later the Assyrians, was regarded as a national catastrophe; its return was a triumph.<\/p><p>The statue was not a mere likeness but was regarded as the real presence of the god, which was cared for, clothed and fed.<\/p><p>Babylon also possessed the <em>Processional Way<\/em>, which led through the famous Ishtar Gate, faced with glazed bricks and animal figures. Along this street, at the New Year festival, moved the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A solemn religious procession.\" tabindex=\"0\">procession<\/span> of the divine images. The monumental architecture of Babylon was thus stage and setting of the Marduk cult, not a mere backdrop.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp3ede43e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp3ede43e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp0a5ee8a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp0a5ee8a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Akitu New Year festival: ritual, kingship and cosmic renewal<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp7a1665f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp7a1665f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp33d71f1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp33d71f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most important festival cycle of the Marduk cult was the <em>Akitu<\/em> festival, the Babylonian New Year festival, which was celebrated in spring over about eleven days. Ritual texts from the late period survive, describing individual daily sequences, though with gaps.<\/p><p>Among the transmitted components is the recitation of the <em>Enuma Elish<\/em> before the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Pictorial representation of a deity venerated in the temple or shrine.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult image<\/span> of Marduk. With this, the god&#8217;s victory over chaos was rendered liturgically present: the festival repeated and secured the order of the world. Also known is a scene in which the king must step before the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Pictorial representation of a deity venerated in the temple or shrine.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult image<\/span>.<\/p><p>The high priest takes from him the royal insignia, strikes him in the face and makes him affirm that he has committed no injustice. Only thereafter does he receive the insignia back. This <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A regulated sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritual<\/span> bound earthly kingship to Marduk and placed it under divine control.<\/p><p>A further component was the great <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A solemn religious procession.\" tabindex=\"0\">procession<\/span>, in which the divine images were brought from the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temples<\/span> of various cities to Babylon and to a festival house outside the city. By this, the festival simultaneously demonstrated the primacy of Marduk and Babylon over the other cult sites of Mesopotamia.<\/p><p>Older scholarship, influenced by the so-called Myth and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A regulated sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">Ritual<\/span> school, was fond of seeing in the <em>Akitu<\/em> festival a drama of the dying and resurrected god.<\/p><p>This interpretation is today regarded as overdrawn and poorly supported. The sober reading emphasises that the festival jointly confirmed the order of the cosmos, the position of Babylon and the legitimacy of the king.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpe942edb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cpe942edb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpc69cf80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpc69cf80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">From city god to imperial god: Marduk's historical rise<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp779b35e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp779b35e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp6af0f46 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp6af0f46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Marduk was originally no significant <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span>. In the oldest sources he appears as a local city god of Babylon, a town of no importance in the Early Dynastic period. His rise is closely linked with the political rise of Babylon.<\/p><p>The decisive impetus was given by the reign of Hammurabi in the 18th century BCE, when Babylon became the dominant power in Mesopotamia. Even thereafter the process remained in motion.<\/p><p>Theologically, Marduk was step by step endowed with functions that had previously belonged to other gods, above all to the old Sumerian king of the gods <a href=\"\/en\/enlil-storm-god-and-lord-of-the-pantheon\/\">Enlil<\/a> and the god of wisdom <a href=\"\/en\/enki\/\">Ea<\/a>, who appears in the epic as Marduk&#8217;s father.<\/p><p>The list of names in tablet seven of the <em>Enuma Elish<\/em> is the theological instrument of this transfer: by Marduk receiving the names and thereby the essential traits of other gods, he becomes the sum of the pantheon. Some scholars speak of a tendency toward monolatry, without Babylon ever attaining <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The belief in a single god.\" tabindex=\"0\">monotheism<\/span>.<\/p><p>Marduk&#8217;s <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A fixed epithet that characterizes a deity or figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">epithet<\/span> was often simply <em>Bel<\/em>, &#8220;Lord&#8221;, a title that also appears in the Hebrew Bible as <em>Bel<\/em>, for example in the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah, who mock the Babylonian god.<\/p><p>His son was the scribe god <a href=\"\/en\/nabu\/\">Nabu<\/a> of Borsippa, whose own ascent accompanied that of Marduk. The historical <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The transmission of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">record<\/span> thus illustrates exemplarily how closely <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The scholarly doctrine of God and of the faith of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theology<\/span> and the politics of power were interwoven in Mesopotamia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36dd7469 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"36dd7469\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13760ab4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"13760ab4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Further links<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28c87796 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"28c87796\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d6538df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d6538df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"\/en\/enki\/\">Ea \/ Enki, father<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/nabu\/\">Nabu, son<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/tiamat\/\">Tiamat, defeated goddess of chaos (if available as a page)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/anu\/\">Anu, older father of the pantheon<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/mesopotamia\/\">Mesopotamia, pantheon overview<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/high-deities\/\">High deities, sub-category<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/gods\/\">Gods, class overview<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-grl4kl40 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"grl4kl40\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bzsbfrmh elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bzsbfrmh\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Literature (selection)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c13224a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2c13224a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0eymh9ub elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0eymh9ub\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<footer class=\"iwg-literatur\" data-nosnippet=\"true\"><ul><li><span data-nosnippet>Lambert, Wilfred G.: <em>Babylonian Creation Myths<\/em>. Winona Lake 2013.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Sommerfeld, Walter: <em>Der Aufstieg Marduks. Die Stellung Marduks in der babylonischen Religion des zweiten Jahrtausends v. Chr.<\/em>. Neukirchen-Vluyn 1982.<\/span><\/li><li>Walde, Christine (ed.): <em>Der Neue Pauly<\/em> (lemma &#8220;Marduk&#8221;).<\/li><\/ul><\/footer>\n<p class=\"iwg-bib-more\"><span data-nosnippet>Further standard works in the <a href=\"\/en\/literature\/\">literature index<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-wv-marduk-faq-9f83f8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"wv-marduk-faq-9f83f8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-wv-marduk-faq-col-1313dd\" data-id=\"wv-marduk-faq-col-1313dd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-wv-marduk-h elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"wv-marduk-h\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Frequently asked questions about Marduk<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-wv-marduk-t elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"wv-marduk-t\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<details class=\"iwg-faq-item\">  <summary><strong>Who was the god Marduk?<\/strong><\/summary>  <p>Marduk was the chief god of the Babylonian pantheon and is regarded as the creator of the world according to Babylonian conception. The Enuma Elish, the Babylonian creation myth, recounts how Marduk defeats the primal sea dragoness Tiamat and forms heaven and earth from her body. In the post-Akkadian period, Marduk took over the function of the Sumerian Enlil.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"iwg-faq-item\">  <summary><strong>What is the Marduk festival?<\/strong><\/summary>  <p>The most important festival of Marduk was the Akitu, the Babylonian New Year festival in spring. The creation myth Enuma Elish was publicly recited, the image of Marduk was led from the Esagila <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building dedicated to the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> in a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A solemn religious procession.\" tabindex=\"0\">procession<\/span> through Babylon, and the king was confirmed anew in his office. The Akitu structured the Babylonian year.<\/p><\/details>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-wv-marduk-s elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"wv-marduk-s\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\r\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\r\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\r\n  \"mainEntity\": [\r\n    {\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who was the god Marduk?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Marduk was the chief god of the Babylonian pantheon and is regarded as the creator of the world according to Babylonian conception. The Enuma Elish, the Babylonian creation myth, recounts how Marduk defeats the primal sea dragoness Tiamat and forms heaven and earth from her body. 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Marduk stands at the centre of the Mesopotamian divine order as the victor in the struggle against chaos and creator of the ordered world. His rise from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4199,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Marduk","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Marduk: Babylon's Imperial God and Tamer of Chaos","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Rise from city god to imperial god, victory over Tiamat, Esagila temple, Akitu festival, 50 names, Mushhushshu dragon.","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_angie_page":false,"gefaehrdungsstufe":"","wesen_kultur":"","wesen_klasse":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[79,86,85],"class_list":["post-4198","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cultures","category-gods","category-mesopotamia"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Marduk: Babylon&#039;s Imperial 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