Marduk in The Neo-Assyrian Royal Inscriptions from Adad-Nārārī Ⅱ to Sennacherib

Marduk appeared in the Neo-Assyrian royal inscriptions since the reign of Adad-nārārī Ⅱ. From the reign of Adad-nārārī Ⅱ onwards, his status in royal ideologies began to be increased, and he gradu-ally acquired various roles in Assyrian imperialism and kingship. During the early reign of Tiglath-pileser Ⅲ, Marduk’s prominence was still visible. Sargon Ⅱ continued this trend and elevated Mar-duk to a new level. Sargon Ⅱ’s policies were deemed as “too Babylonian” by his son, Sennacherib, who reversed course in order to de-Babylonianise Assyria. After about a decade of almost total silence on Marduk (and Bēl) in his royal inscriptions, Marduk began to be mentioned after 691 BC, which is the year that Sennacherib fought the battle of Ḫalule against the Babylonians and their allies, followed by the capture of Babylon and the destruction of Marduk’s statue in 689 BC. A detailed examination of Marduk’s character and status in the royal ideologies from Adad-nārārī Ⅱ to Sennacherib serves to better contextualize Sennacherib’s policies to erase Marduk and de-Baby-lonianise Assyria.