Esagila

Esagila (also Esangila, Esagil, šešgallu ) was a temple in Babylon in honor of Marduk, the supreme deity of the Babylonians. Marduk was later, probably due to the revered position of power of Babylon in Mesopotamia. Esagila is Sumerian and means House " since elevated head."

Location of the temple

In the belief of the Babylonians of Esagil shrine was the center of their world. This is also reflected by the fact that Esagila was built in the middle of the city of Babylon system. The temple Esagila you walked first through an approximately 40 x 70 meters large yard. Then you had to have a second court traverse (40 by 25 meters ) before you stood in front of the Esagil Shrine. The shrine consisted of two chambers consecrated, the antechamber and the " Holy of Holies " in which the statues of Marduk and his consort were Zarpanitum.

North of the temple Esagila verged Etemenanki (Sumerian: House " foundation of heaven and earth " ) to. On the Etemenanki a temple tower ( ziggurat ) was built. The ziggurat of Etemenanki is usually interpreted as the Tower of Babel.

Acts of worship in the temple

In the temple Esagila was celebrated in early spring the beginning of the ritual year in honor of Marduk. The Akitu - festival lasted eleven ( ten? ) Days. With the ceremonies of the epic Enûma was reminded of Eli because among other things, on the fourth day of the performance, such as Marduk, the universe, and Esagila Babylon had created. The other days were filled with ritual purifications, sacrifices, divinations, penance and reconciliation ceremonies between Marduk and the king, but above all with processions.

Destruction and reconstruction,

Tukulti Ninurta destroyed the walls of Babylon and sacked the temples of Esagila, the Marduk statue was brought to Assyria.

689 BC: According to the annals of the Assyrian king Sennacherib ( Sennacherib ) is supposed to have destroyed the temples and the Esagila Etemenanki during the plunder of Babylon.

His successor was Assurhaddon Esagila rebuild as many building inscriptions show.

484 BC: The Persian King Xerxes I. Herodotus was loud statues Esagila remove when the city was sacked. It is not sure which statues are meant here. However, the Marduk cult in Esagila went on. So to assume that it was not the statue of Marduk.

331 BC: Alexander the Great invaded Babylon and took part in ceremonies for the god Marduk. Before moving on, he ordered the reconstruction of Esagila and Etemenanki. In the first century AD, the temple of Esagila was still in function, as evidenced by contemporary texts.

Temple land expropriations

It came with reforms repeatedly expropriation of temple lands to curtail the economic power of the priesthood. Without the income not a big influence on the decisive official responsibilities could be taken. In addition, the dependent workers were bound to the temple, which represented additional economic factors out of concern for the care of the families.

Expropriation under Nabonidus

The Neo-Babylonian king Nabonidus put the expropriation under Nebuchadnezzar II started cautious to critical. Under his reign, the temple of Marduk lost their lush revenue. Many temples staff lost their jobs

New distribution mechanisms

Nabonidus leased the temple lands to the economically powerful families in the country. The previously lower taxes the temples were replaced by a two lease system. The Babylonierkönig received by the devolved its responsibility in temple land and the specified minimum levy a safe predictable income, which was not linked to the crop yields. In addition, a semi-mounted tax was levied through participation in the Verkäufserlösen the Ländereiprodukte.

Garden land taxes

The tenants had to pay per acre of garden land as basic tax 28 Corinthians (1 Cor = 180 liters) dates to the king and 4 Kor dates to the gardener. After the subsequent harvest accounted for 12 dates Cor Cor a tax levy to the district supervisor, clerk, surveyor and store staff. Which approximately 23% has been deducted for meals. It thus remained about 77 % as a direct tax levy, which corresponds to an effective tax rate of approximately 6.33% as harvest delivery. The temple Esagila was not involved in garden land income.

Farmland taxes

The usual calculation unit for farmland was named one plow and corresponded to about 33 acres, which was managed with a minimum of 4 iron plows, 2 cows and 4 tillers by the tenant. As a basic tax had to be paid 300 of barley without deductions to the king. The tax was divided into several sections: 20% of the yield of crops for transportation and wages, the district supervisor, clerk, surveyor and memory servants. 8.33% tax to the Esagila Temple, which had in turn dissipate 23% of the servants of the king. There were thus the effective harvest rates of about 26.33% for personnel costs of the king, and 6% as a temple tax. Overall, the tenants had to pay 32.33 % with about one-third as a harvest - tax payment.