Category:Nabonidus (subject)
Nabonidus was King of Babylon, from 556 to 539 BCE.
Overview
Nabonidus succeeded Labashi-Marduk, the child king who died victim of assassination.
The origins of Nabonidus' family are obscure. He was born in Harran, in northern Mesopotamia and was probably a military commander. As king, he was a passionate devotee of the moon god, Sin. Quite mysteriously, he spent ten years of his life in the desert town of Teima in the Arabian peninsula, leaving his eldest son and heir to the throne, Belshazzar, in charge of political affairs in Babylon.
Nabonidus was the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. In 539 BCE Cyrus conquered Babylon. The fate of Nabonidus is uncertain. Ancient sources suggest that he was spared and allowed to retire in Carmania.
Nabonidus in ancient sources
Nabonidus is not mentioned in the Book of Daniel. However, the episode of the madness of "Nebuchadnezzar" is likely an allusion to the years Nabonidus spent at Teima.
Some Aramaic fragments from Qumran record a tale in which Nabonidus is advised to abandon idolatry and worship the only Deity.
Nabonidus in literature & the arts
Nabonidus in scholarship
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External links
Pages in category "Nabonidus (subject)"
The following 4 pages are in this category, out of 4 total.