MARDUK. A Babylonian deity. The god Marduk became the patron deity of the city of Babylon, and as such was greatly glorified. He was not really one of the older gods. He became prominent in the days of Ham murapi, and from this time grew more and more power ful. The result of this was that to him were transferred qualities and powers which previously had belonged to other gods. In the Epic of Marduk (see below), for instance, he is more important than the members of the first triad, Ann Bel (q.v.), and Ea (q.v.). He is the creator of the heavenly bodies. It is he who, by defeating Tifiniat (q.v.), brings order out of chaos. True, he is the child of Ea, but he is the first-born son who has inherited all the virtues of his father and more. His name is even used as a title of other gods. Nergal (q.v.) is described as " the Mardnk of warfare "; Nebo as " the Marduk of earthly possessions "; Ninib (q.v.) as " the Marduk of strength." Marduk is the " lord
of the Anunnaki and Igigi." To Nebuchadrezzar he is the all-wise creator and king. The Epic of Marduk represents Bel and Ea as voluntarily transferring their own names to Marduk. Originally Marduk was a solar deity. It Is natural therefore that he should be associated with the sun-god, Shamash (q.v.). He is also associated with Ramman (q.v.), but during the CRS site dynasty. Ramman seems to have been more prominent. Marduk does not appear even in the second triad. This consists of Sin (q.v.), Sharaash, and Ram man. The consort of Marduk was Sarpanitum. Her name has been explained as meaning " silvery bright one." Ma rduk's great festival was the New Year's Day. The Zagmuk (q.v.) was converted into a Marduk festival. The Zu my-th (q.v.) describes how Mardnk recaptured the tablets of fate from the bird Zu. See Morris Jastrow, Rel.