NABONIDUS

NABONIDUS
(NABU-NA’ID in babylonian; reigned 555–539 B.C.)
   Babylonian king. He was not of royal blood and claimed descent from a scholar and courtier, Nabu-balatsu-iqbi. His mother, Adda’-guppi, had spent many years at the Babylonian court. Her devotion to the moon god Sin was shared by Nabonidus. Nabonidus had been a prominent citizen and an experienced soldier, and he was no longer young when he became king. It is not quite clear under what circumstances he acceded to the throne in the aftermath of assassination of the designated crown prince. In his first regnal years, he had to assert Babylonian authority in southern Anatoliaand Syria, and his campaigns there resulted in rich booty that he used to repair temples throughout the land. He then moved to Arabia, where he set up Babylonian strongholds in an effort to impose control over the nomadic population and the lucrative incense trade. From his headquarters from the oasis city Teima, he was able to direct the project of rebuilding the temple of Sin at Harran. During his absence from Babylon, which was to last some 10 years, his son, Belshazzar, was entrusted with the running of the state. Nabonidus returned to Babylon in c. 543 B.C. and duly celebrated the New Year festival, which had not been performed while he was at Teima. He managed to inaugurate the completed temple at Harran and other building projects, but in 539, his reign came to an end when the Persian king Cyrus II invaded Babylonia. Nabonidus, who had marched to meet his adversary, was beaten in battle near Opis and surrendered. The Persians entered Babylon freely, and Cyrus declared himself king. Nabonidus was moved to Carmania in southern Iran, where he died. He was the last indigenous king of Babylon.

Historical Dictionary of Mesopotamia. . 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nabonidus — in relief showing him praying to the moon, sun and Venus …   Wikipedia

  • NABONIDUS — (Nabû naʾid), last king of Babylon (556–539 B.C.E.), son of a governor, Nabû balaṭsu iqbi, and a votaress of Sin. A native of haran , Nabonidus was a military commander in his sixties when he ascended the throne of Babylon. The principal… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Nabonidus — (reigned 555 539 b.c.)    The last native born king of ancient Babylonia and the last ruler of the Neo Babylonian dynasty. Nabonidus (or Nabu naid) was not of royal lineage; instead, he was a courtier and the son of a prominent priestess of the… …   Ancient Mesopotamia dictioary

  • Nabonidus — /nab oh nuy deuhs/, n. died 539? B.C., last king of Babylonia 556 539 (father of Belshazzar). * * * ▪ king of Babylonia also spelled  Nabu Naʾid (“Reverer of Nabu”)        king of Babylonia from 556 until 539 BC, when Babylon fell to Cyrus (Cyrus …   Universalium

  • Nabonidus Chronicle — The Nabonidus Chronicle The Nabonidus Chronicle is an ancient Babylonian text, part of a larger series of Babylonian Chronicles incribed in cuneiform script on clay tablets. It deals primarily with the reign of Nabonidus, the last king of the Neo …   Wikipedia

  • Nabonidus — Nabonide Cylindre en terre cuite de Nabonide, évoquant la restauration du temple de Sîn à Ur, British Museum Nabonide, dernier roi de l’empire néo babylonien. Gouverneur de Babylone âgé de soixante ans, il est porté au pouvoir en 556 par le parti …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Nabonidus — see Nebuchadrezzar II. Biographical Dictionary of Ancient Egypt by Rosalie and Antony E. David …   Ancient Egypt

  • Nabonidus — /næbəˈnaɪdəs/ (say nabuh nuyduhs) noun Bible Belshazzar s father; king of Babylon when it fell to Cyrus, 539 BC …  

  • Nabonidus — /nab oh nuy deuhs/, n. died 539? B.C., last king of Babylonia 556 539 (father of Belshazzar) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Cylinder of Nabonidus — The Nabonidus Cylinder. The Nabonidus Cylinder from Sippar is a long text in which king Nabonidus of Babylonia (556 539 BC) describes how he repaired three temples: the sanctuary of the moon god Sin in Harran, the sanctuary of the warrior goddess …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”