Temple of Marduk (Esagila): Constructions, Rituals, and Restorations (c. 1894 BCE–539 BCE)

1. Esagila attested in Hammurabi’s era

   Jan 1, 1792 BCELabels: Esagila, Hammurabi

   • Esagila Britannica
   • Esagila Wiki

2. Elamite seizure of Marduk’s statue

   Jan 1, 1150 BCELabels: utruk-Na unte, Marduk statue

   • WHE Marduk
   • Marduk Statue Wiki

3. Nebuchadnezzar I returns Marduk’s statue

   Jan 1, 1125 BCELabels: Nebuchadnezzar I, Marduk statue

   • WHE Marduk
   • Marduk Statue Wiki

4. New Year Akitu rites centered on Esagila

   Jan 1, 1000 BCELabels: Akitu festival, Esagila

   • ANE Today
   • Akitu es

5. Sennacherib destroys Babylon and plunders temples

   Jan 1, 689 BCELabels: Sennacherib, Babylon

   • Britannica Mesopotamia
   • Siege of Babylon

6. Esarhaddon orders Babylon and Esagila rebuilt

   Jan 1, 676 BCELabels: Esarhaddon, Esagila

   • Met Museum
   • Esarhaddon Wiki

7. Marduk’s statue returned for Shamash-shum-ukin

   Mar 1, 668 BCELabels: Shamash-shum-ukin, Marduk statue

   • Marduk Statue Wiki
   • Met Museum

8. Nabopolassar restores Esagila and rebuilds Etemenanki

   Jan 1, 626 BCELabels: Nabopolassar, Etemenanki

   • British Museum
   • Etemenanki Wiki

9. Nebuchadnezzar II completes Esagila’s final monumental form

   Jan 1, 604 BCELabels: Nebuchadnezzar II, Esagila

   • Esagila Britannica
   • Esagila Wiki

10. Nabonidus emphasizes care for Esagila and Ezida

    Jan 1, 556 BCELabels: Nabonidus, Ezida

    • Penn Museum
    • Nabonidus Cylinder

11. Cyrus conquers Babylon and issues Esagila foundation deposit

    Oct 1, 539 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Cyrus Cylinder

    • British Museum Cylinder
    • Cyrus Cylinder WHE

12. Herodotus reports Esagila’s wealth and prominence

    Jan 1, 450 BCELabels: Herodotus, Esagila

    • Esagila Britannica
    • Herodotus Britannica