Neo-Babylonian Period (626 BC- 539

Neo-Babylonian Period (626 BC- 539 BC)

The Neo-Babylonian period marked in the history of Babylonia through the reign of its Babylonian kings/leaders, from Nabopolassar to Nebuchanezzar, ending with King Cyrus' reign. The Neo-Babylonian Empire flourished from 626 BC to 539 BC. Its glory as a Babylonian empire stems from the fact that during this period, native Babylonians reigned as Kings and leaders of the Empire, starting from Nabopolassar's reign, followed by Nebuchadnezzar II, later succeeded by his son Amel-Marduk, then Neriglissar, Labashi-Marduk, Nabonidus, and eventually, King Cyrus (Worldtimelines.org, 2005). Among these leaders, only Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar, and King Cyrus figured significantly in Neo-Babylonian history, since each king marked a significant event in Babylonia: Nabopolassar served as a catalyst that began the Neo-Babylonian period and empire, Nebuchadnezzar's reign was considered the 'Golden Age' of Babylonian history, and King Cyrus' reign marked the end of the Neo-Babylonian tradition.

Among these three significant leaders in Neo-Babylonian Empire, it is Nebuchadnezzar who is considered as the most significant and well-known. This is because of Babylonian nationalism and culture flourished during his reign, wherein the 'great accomplishment of ancient Mesopotamian literati is the Babylonian Epic of Creation," the Enuma Elish, was created. The Enuma Elish became the symbol of the great cultural legacy not only of Nebuchadnezzar's leadership, but also of the Babylonian heritage. Interestingly, two important information about Neo-Babylonians are found in Nebuchadnezzar's reign: the greatest Babylonian leader and the most significant literary creation in Babylonian culture and Mesopotamian literature (i.e., Nebuchadnezzar and Enuma Elish, respectively) (Arnold, 2004:83).

Babylonian society, culture and history are best reflected in the Enuma Elish. Numerous theories surround the creation and origin of this literary text, wherein it is theorized that the Enuma Elish was actually created during the reign of the Akkadians, prior to the rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. More than a creation story for the Babylonians, the Enuma Elish

… reflects an era when the city of Babylon had risen politically…as the traditional locus of divine power in the world and a new sense of nationalism had emerged with Babylon at the center of a world empire (Arnold, 2004:83).