나보니두스의 정치, 종교적 행적(行蹟)과 그 배경

Abstract

The regnal years of Nabonidus, the last king of the Neo-Babylonian dynasty, have received the attention of several scholars, for many aspects of his reign seem to be uncommon - his long stay in Taima which was located far from his capital, the real nature of Belshazzar’s rule in Babylon during his absence, people’s reaction to the fall of Babylon, and his religious preference to the Moon-god, Sîn. Among the historical sources for his reign, the Verse Account reflects the conflict of Nabonidus with the Babylonian Elites, especially in religious matters. It describes the injustice of Nabonidus’ rule, people’s discontent toward him, his possession of devils, displeasure of Marduk toward him, derisive remark about his neglect of religious rites, and welcome of Cyrus by the Babyulonians as a liberator. Even though this could be exploited by the Persian post eventum for denouncing the conquered king, it could be hardly considered as a total invention differently from the historical events. In this paper, therefore, I have searched its possible reasons through investigating Nabonidus’ personal backgrounds and his deeds during the reign. It is well known that Nabonidus had interest in the past like other Neo-Babylonian kings, but he seems to be more pious to the old tradition, particularly to the Assyrian tradition in connecting his reign to those of the former Assyrian kings. Nabonidus possibly followed an Assyrian paradigm by using the same titulary as of Assyrian kings, while Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezzar made efforts to forge a model of Babylonian imperial rule by avoiding Assyrian imperial idioms consciously, and it is quite probable that Nabonidus attempted to follow and revive the Assyrian concepts and models of reign, but centered in Babylon. Nabonidus’ religious proclivity and his favour to Harran could be understood in this regard, since there remain the records for several Neo-Assyrian kings’ personal concerns for the cult of Sîn of Harran, whether out of personal devotion or as a political maneuver. This, as well as the possible fact that Nabonidus had the Aramaic background shown in his stay at Taima may have influenced his religious favor to the Moon-god Sîn and his long stay at Taima. Assyria and Babylonia had been the two representative forces in ancient Mesopotamia. For the most of the seventh century BC, however, Babylonia was under Assyrian domination, until Nabopolassar liberate it. During that period of oppression, the Babylonians have suffered from several invasions and plunders by the Assyrian. The evidences show that Nabonidus was closely related to Harran which was heavily Assyrianized in the seventh century, which reveals him having the Aramaic and Assyrian background. His favor to the Moon-god over Marduk and his interest in Assyrian traditions seem to be somewhat excessive to the eye of the Babylonians. This might remind the Babylonians of an unpleasant past. In these circumstances, the conflict between Nabonidus and the Babylonian elites, who are presented as priests in the Verse Account, would be unavoidable.