The reign of Nebuchadnezzar I in history and historical memory / John P. Nielsen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nielsen, John P. (John Preben), 1973- author.

Series:

Studies in the history of the ancient Near East

Studies in the History of the ancient Near East

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kings and rulers.

Politics and government.

Nebuchadnezzar I, King of Babylonia, active 12th century B.C.

Nebuchadnezzar.

Babylonia--History.

Babylonia.

Babylon (Extinct city)--History.

Babylon (Extinct city).

Iraq--Babylon (Extinct city).

Middle East--Babylonia.

Physical Description:

xxxiii, 219 pages : map ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2018.

Summary:

"Nebuchadnezzar I (r. 1125-1104) was one of the more significant and successful kings to rule Babylonia in the intervening period between the demise of the Kassite Dynasty in the 12th century at the end of the Late Bronze Age, and the emergence of a new, independent Babylonian monarchy in the last quarter of the 7th century. His dynamic reign saw Nebuchadnezzar active on both domestic and foreign fronts. He tended to the needs of the traditional cult sanctuaries and their associated priesthoods in the major cities throughout Babylonia and embarked on military campaigns against both Assyria in the north and Elam to the east. Yet later Babylonian tradition celebrated him for one achievement that was little noted in his own royal inscriptions: the return of the statue of Marduk, Babylon's patron deity, from captivity in Elam. The Reign of Nebuchadnezzar reconstructs the history of Nebuchadnezzar I's rule and, drawing upon theoretical treatments of historical and collective memory, examines how stories of his reign were intentionally utilized by later generations of Babylonian scholars and priests to create an historical memory that projected their collective identity and reflected Marduk's rise to the place of primacy within the Babylonian pantheon in the 1st millennium BCE. It also explores how this historical memory was employed by the urban elite in discourses of power. Nebuchadnezzar I remained a viable symbol, though with diminishing effect, until at least the 3rd century BCE, by which time his memory had almost entirely faded. This study is a valuable resource to students of the Ancient Near East and Nebuchadnezzar, but is also a fascinating exploration of memory creation and exploitation in the ancient world"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Toward an understanding of the Babylonian memory of Nebuchadnezzar I

Nebuchadnezzar I : prior scholarship and historical sources

The reign of Nebuchadnezzar I

Nebuchadnezzar I's successors

Esarhaddon and the return of Marduk in 668 bce

Remembering Nebuchadnezzar I from the zenith of Babylonian power through the Seleucid Era

Nebuchadnezzar I in the collective memory

The elevation of Marduk : Nebuchadnezzar I as cultural formation

Intentional history in the early first millennium BCE.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Nielsen, John P. (John Preben), 1973- author. Reign of Nebuchadnezzar I in history and historical memory

ISBN:

9781138120402

1138120405

OCLC:

1017600115

Publisher Number:

99977320050