Marduk

Marduk (Sumerian spelling in Akkadian/Elamite Amarutu "solar calf"; Biblical Merodach) was the name of a late generation god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon, who, when Babylon permanently became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of Hammurabi (18th century B.C.E.), started to slowly rise to the position of the head of the Babylonian pantheon, a position he fully acquired by the second half of the second millennium B.C.E. During the time of the Jewish captivity of Babylon, Bel-Marduk was the Babylonian version of the Canaanite Baal, who was also associated with both the bull-calf and the sun. Ironically, it was Marduk whom Cyrus the Great of Persia credited witht the inspiration to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple of Yahwher.

Character

Marduk literally means "bull calf of the sun." He was one of the sons of Ea (called Enki in the Sumerian myths), the creator/crafstman deity. Sometimes portrayed as double-headed, he was later given the epithet Bel, or "Lord," and was refered to simply as "Bel" in a manner similar to that of the Canaanite Baal (master/lord) and the Israelite Yawheh (the Lord). In later times, especially with the rise of the city of Babylon where he was particlarly important, Marduk became identified with the chief diety, Enlil. In the Enuma Elish, Marduk was appointed as the champion of the gods and slew the tyranical sea-serpent goddess Tiamat. He then claimed the tablets of destiny, fastened them to his own breast and created a new world order that included humankind. In this story it is also Marduk who initiated the astrological system and created the signs of the zokiak. Marduk remained an important deity from at least the time of Hammurabi until well into the Persian period around 400 B.C.E. A ziggarut (tower) devoted to Marduk is thought by some scholars to be the source of the story of the Tower of Babel. [1]

Marduk in the Enuma Elish

When Babylon became the capital of Mesopotamia, the patron deity of Babylon was elevated to the level of supreme god. Some scholars believe the Enûma Elish was written to explain how Marduk came to a position of supreme power. Also included in this document are the fifty names of Marduk.

In Enûma Elish, a civil war between the gods was growing to a climactic battle. The Anunnaki gods gathered together to find one god who could defeat the gods rising against them. Marduk, a very young god, answered the call and was promised the position of head god.

When he killed his enemy, he "wrested from him the Tablets of Destiny, wrongfully his" and assumed his new position. Under his reign humans were created to bear the burdens of life so the gods could be at leisure.

O Marduk, thou art our avenger!

We give thee sovereignty over the whole world.

Sit thou down in might; be exalted in thy command.

Thy weapon shall never lose its power; it shall crush thy foe.

O Lord, spare the life of him that putteth his trust in thee,

But as for the god who began the rebellion, pour out his life."

Then set they in their midst a garment,

And unto Marduk,- their first-born they spake:

"May thy fate, O lord, be supreme among the gods,

To destroy and to create; speak thou the word, and thy command shall be fulfilled.

— Tablet 4

She was like one posessed, She lost her reason.

Tiamat uttered wild, piercing cries,

She trembled and shook to her very foundations.

She recited an incantation, she pronounced her spell,

And the gods of the battle cried out for their weapons.

Then advanced Tiamat and Marduk, the counselor of the gods;

To the fight they came on, to the battle they drew nigh.

The lord spread out his net and caught her,

And the evil wind that was behind him he let loose in her face.

As Tiamat opened her mouth to its full extent,

He drove in the evil wind, while as yet she had not shut her lips.

The terrible winds filled her belly,

And her courage was taken from her, and her mouth she opened wide.

He seized the spear and burst her belly,

He severed her inward parts, he pierced her heart.

He overcame her and cut off her life;

He cast down her body and stood upon it.

When he had slain Tiamat, the leader,

Her might was broken, her host was scattered.

And the gods her helpers, who marched by her side,

Trembled, and were afraid, and turned back.

They took to flight to save their lives;

But they were surrounded, so that they could not escape.

He took them captive, he broke their weapons;

In the net they were caught and in the snare they sat down.

They filled the world with cries of grief.

(Tablet four)

History

Marduk and his dragon, from a Babylonian cylinder seal

Scholars generally believe that Marduk, whose exact cultural origins are still unclear, came to be imbued with traits belonging to two gods who at an earlier period were recognized particularly powerful, namely Ea and Enlil. In the case of Ea, the transfer proceeds pacifically and without involving the effacement of the older god. Marduk is the son of Ea. The father voluntarily recognizes the superiority of the son and hands over to him the control of humanity. This association of Marduk and Ea may also reflect the political supremacy of Babylon, whose patron was Marduk, over the earlier cultural center of Eridu, where Ea was particularly honoroed.

While the relationship between Ea and Marduk is marked by harmony and an amicable abdication on the part of the father in favour of his son, Marduk's absorption of the power and prerogatives of Enlil of Nippur was at the expense of the latter's prestige. After the days of Hammurabi, the cult of Marduk eclipsed that of Enlil. As he became more supreme, Marduk normally was referred to simply as Bel "Lord".

People were named after Marduk. For example, the Biblical personality, the Persian Mordechai (Book of Esther) used this Gentile name in replacement of his Hebrew name Bilshan.

Babylonian texts talk of the creation of Eridu by the god Marduk as the first city, 'the holy city, the dwelling of their [the other gods] delight'.

In late Babylonian astrology, Marduk was connected to the planet Jupiter. As the ruler of the late Babylonian pantheon, he was equated with the Greek god Zeus (Latin Jupiter), hence the name of the planet.

Astrological Association

Marduk was a sun god. He was associated with the sun, pretty much like Ra in Egypt. It is interesting to note that Marduk rose to power in Babylon starting circa 2200 B.C.E., and the Egyptian God Amun-Ra which the Thebans Egyptian rulers worshipped also rose to Power at around this time. This is no coincidence and the fact that the Era of Aries started at around 2200 B.C.E. has a lot to do with it. It is as if both cultures were being manipulated by an invisible supernatural something (gods).

Nabu, god of wisdom, is a son of Marduk.

External links

The Mystica (article about Marduk)

Putting God on Trial — The Biblical Book of Job (a Biblical reworking of the combat motif between Tiamat and Marduk).

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