Continuity of Babylonian festivals (1)

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The Achaemenid kings celebrated Mesopotamian festivals according to Babylonian system of lunar months with intercalation to calibrate them with the solar year, and they often used Babylonian and Elamite month names in their records, names which reflect indigenous festivals. Cyrus II, who conquered Babylon in 539, adopted the title ‘king of Babylon’ and espoused local customs, celebrating the Babylonian festival of the New Year in which he ‘took the hands’ of Bel-Marduk, and heard the Enūma Eliš recited. Alexander and the Seleucid kings also took part in the customary Babylonian royal rituals, ensuring that these were still kept and studied under royal patronage. The Greek overlords adopted a Mesopotamian style of kingship and participated in the New Year festival, celebrated at different times of the year in different cities, with its recital of the Babylonian Enūma Eliš.

Bibliography

Stephanie Dalley

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