RATIONES RERUM 26: Articolo Edward Dąbrowa

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Rationes Rerum 26

EDWARD DĄBROWA
Seleucid and Parthian Kings, and the Babylonian Priests

The dominant role of religion in the public life of the Neo-Babylonian state meant that its rulers made considerable efforts to secure the support of the priesthood, especially that of the most important sanctuary, the Esagila temple, dedicated to the worship of the god Marduk. The influence of the Babylonian priesthood was so significant that even the conquerors of Babylonia – the Persian king Cyrus and the first rulers of the Seleucid dynasty – sought their favor. Evidence of these efforts is provided by the so-called Cyrus Cylinder and the Cylinder of Antiochus I. By contrast, no document has come to light that would indicate any contacts between the Babylonian priesthood and the Parthian ruler Mithridates I (171-132 BCE) following the conquest of Babylonia by Parthian forces in 141 BCE. The aim of this article is to identif y the reasons for this absence.