Explore the rise of Marduk, the ancient Mesopotamian god who ascended to supremacy through religious transformation, political strategy, and mythological revisionism. Initially a minor Sumerian deity, Marduk became Babylon's supreme god, eclipsing older gods like Enlil and Anu.

The Babylonian creation epic, Enuma Elish, immortalized his conquest of the chaos-dragon Tiamat, portraying him as the ruler of heaven and Earth. Marduk's worship centered at Babylon's Esagila temple, with the Ziggurat Etemenanki symbolizing his dominance. Unlike traditional deities, his ascent was marked by conflict and political maneuvering, reshaping ancient religious traditions.

Part of the Enkiite faction, Marduk's ambitions conflicted with the Enlilite gods who traditionally governed Earth. His territorial claims led to conflicts like the Pyramid Wars and imprisonment within the Great Pyramid. Marduk’s Egyptian counterpart, Amun-Ra, faced suppression during Akhenaten’s reign, later restored under Tutankhamun.

The rivalry between Marduk and Yahweh is echoed in biblical texts, painting Babylon as idolatrous and corrupt. The Book of Isaiah foresees Babylon's downfall as divine punishment. When Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BCE, the Cyrus Cylinder suggests Marduk chose Cyrus as his ruler, a debated claim seen as a political maneuver to integrate Babylon into the Persian Empire. By Alexander the Great's arrival in 331 BCE, Marduk’s temple was in decline, marking the end of his reign.

Script and editing by Lucas Martins Kern.

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