Rabâ-ša-Marduk
Encyclopedia
Rabâ-ša-Marduk, “great are (the deeds) of Marduk”, was a prominent physician, or asû, from the city of Nippur
who was posted to the Hittite
court of Muwatalli II
(ca. 1295–1272 BC short chronology) in Anatolia in the thirteenth century BC, apparently as part of a diplomatic mission of Kassite
king Kadašman-Turgu
(1281–1264 BC short chronology).
but this was not until the reign of Nabu-apla-iddina
, around four hundred years later.
Rabâ-ša-Marduk received twelve sūtu, where a sūtu is ca. 0.27 hectares, of high quality dates for his sacrifice, in the 11th year of Nazi-Maruttaš
on the 19th day of the month of ulūlu (around August of 1296 BC). Four years later, he again received a crop of dates for sacrificial services rendered. Then, in 1290 BC, he was supplied a mina
of tallow
for a journey to Babylon. There are a series of tablets recording rations for Rabâ-ša-Marduk excavated at Nippur of uncertain date but possibly up to Nazi-Maruttaš’ 21st year, including one provisioning another journey to Babylon.
A medical tablet originally from Babylon was found in excavations at Assur
. It was probably one of the scientific and literary works looted by Tukulti-Ninurta I
during his conquest of the city. It is accompanied by a colophon on lines 36 to 38, “Eighteen prescriptions for headache (lit: seizing of the temple), first tablet, from the hand of Rabiā-ša-Marduk.” Amongst the remedies it includes:
A later work, šumma amēlu muḫḫašu umma ukāl, a therapeutic exorcist work known primarily from the library of Ashurbanipal
shares much of the content and may have borrowed from it.
His mission to the Hittite court must have taken place during the first half of Kadašman-Turgu’s reign as this was when there was an overlap with that of Muwatalli’s rule. He was accompanied by an incantation priest. His host, Muwatalli, was the only Hittite king known to have not fathered a son of the first rank (i.e. his primary wife, the Tawananna) and this may have been the reason behind the importation of foreign experts. If so, the effort was in vain as Muwatalli would be succeeded by Urḫi-Teššup, the son of a concubine, who reigned briefly under the name of Mursili III
before his overthrow. Nevertheless, Rabâ-ša-Marduk was enticed to stay with the provision of a fine house and a marriage to a member of the king’s family. The Kassite king Kadašman-Enlil II
(1263-1255 BC short chronology) would complain bitterly to Ḫattušili III
about the failure to return loaned artisans, but Ḫattušili countered that the, now probably elderly, physician was free to go as he pleased.
Nippur
Nippur was one of the most ancient of all the Sumerian cities. It was the special seat of the worship of the Sumerian god Enlil, the "Lord Wind," ruler of the cosmos subject to An alone...
who was posted to the Hittite
Hittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
court of Muwatalli II
Muwatalli II
Muwatalli II was a king of the New kingdom of the Hittite empire .- Biography :He was the eldest son of Mursili II and Queen Gassulawiya, and he had several siblings....
(ca. 1295–1272 BC short chronology) in Anatolia in the thirteenth century BC, apparently as part of a diplomatic mission of Kassite
Kassites
The Kassites were an ancient Near Eastern people who gained control of Babylonia after the fall of the Old Babylonian Empire after ca. 1531 BC to ca. 1155 BC...
king Kadašman-Turgu
Kadashman-Turgu
Kadašman-Turgu, meaning he believes in Turgu, a Kassite deity, was the twenty-fourth king of the Kassite dynasty of Babylon. He succeeded his father, Nazi-Maruttaš, continuing the tradition of proclaiming himself lugal ki-šár-ra or “king of the world” and went on to reign for eighteen years...
(1281–1264 BC short chronology).
Biography
His name was uncommon. Another Rabâ-ša-Marduk was governor of IsinIsin
Isin was an ancient city-state of lower Mesopotamia about 20 miles south of Nippur at the site of modern Ishan al-Bahriyat in Iraq's Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate.-History:...
but this was not until the reign of Nabu-apla-iddina
Nabu-apla-iddina
Nabu-apla-iddina was a Babylonian king who reigned ca. 888 – 855 BC. His father was King Nabu-shuma-ukin. During much of Nabu-apla-iddina's reign Babylon faced a significant rival in Assyria under the rule of Ashurnasirpal II...
, around four hundred years later.
Rabâ-ša-Marduk received twelve sūtu, where a sūtu is ca. 0.27 hectares, of high quality dates for his sacrifice, in the 11th year of Nazi-Maruttaš
Nazi-Maruttash
Nazi-Maruttaš, Maruttaš protects him, was a Kassite king of Babylon ca. 1307–1282 BC and self-proclaimed šar kiššati, or “King of the World”. He was the twenty third of the dynasty, the son and successor of Kurigalzu II and reigned for twenty six years...
on the 19th day of the month of ulūlu (around August of 1296 BC). Four years later, he again received a crop of dates for sacrificial services rendered. Then, in 1290 BC, he was supplied a mina
Mina (unit)
The mina is an ancient Near Eastern unit of weight equivalent to 60 shekels. The mina, like the shekel, was also a unit of currency; in ancient Greece it was equal to 100 drachmae. In the first century AD, it amounted to about a fourth of the wages earned annually by an agricultural worker...
of tallow
Tallow
Tallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton fat, processed from suet. It is solid at room temperature. Unlike suet, tallow can be stored for extended periods without the need for refrigeration to prevent decomposition, provided it is kept in an airtight container to prevent oxidation.In industry,...
for a journey to Babylon. There are a series of tablets recording rations for Rabâ-ša-Marduk excavated at Nippur of uncertain date but possibly up to Nazi-Maruttaš’ 21st year, including one provisioning another journey to Babylon.
A medical tablet originally from Babylon was found in excavations at Assur
Assur
Assur , was one of the capitals of ancient Assyria. The remains of the city are situated on the western bank of river Tigris, north of the confluence with the tributary Little Zab river, in modern day Iraq, more precisely in the Al-Shirqat District .Assur is also...
. It was probably one of the scientific and literary works looted by Tukulti-Ninurta I
Tukulti-Ninurta I
Tukulti-Ninurta I was a king of Assyria.He succeeded Shalmaneser I, his father, as king and won a major victory against the Hittites at the Battle of Nihriya in the first half of his reign...
during his conquest of the city. It is accompanied by a colophon on lines 36 to 38, “Eighteen prescriptions for headache (lit: seizing of the temple), first tablet, from the hand of Rabiā-ša-Marduk.” Amongst the remedies it includes:
A later work, šumma amēlu muḫḫašu umma ukāl, a therapeutic exorcist work known primarily from the library of Ashurbanipal
Library of Ashurbanipal
-External links:. In our time discussion programme. 45 minutes....
shares much of the content and may have borrowed from it.
His mission to the Hittite court must have taken place during the first half of Kadašman-Turgu’s reign as this was when there was an overlap with that of Muwatalli’s rule. He was accompanied by an incantation priest. His host, Muwatalli, was the only Hittite king known to have not fathered a son of the first rank (i.e. his primary wife, the Tawananna) and this may have been the reason behind the importation of foreign experts. If so, the effort was in vain as Muwatalli would be succeeded by Urḫi-Teššup, the son of a concubine, who reigned briefly under the name of Mursili III
Mursili III
Mursili III, also known as Urhi-Teshub, was a king of the Hittites who assumed the throne of the Hittite empire at Tarhuntassa upon his father's death around 1272 BCE. He was a cousin of Tudhaliya IV and Queen Maathorneferure.- Biography :...
before his overthrow. Nevertheless, Rabâ-ša-Marduk was enticed to stay with the provision of a fine house and a marriage to a member of the king’s family. The Kassite king Kadašman-Enlil II
Kadashman-Enlil II
Kadašman-Enlil II was the twenty fifth king of the Kassite dynasty of Babylon.He succeeded Kadašman-Turgu as a child and political power was exercised at first by an influential vizier, Itti-Marduk-balatu, “whom the gods have caused to live far too long and in whose mouth unfavourable words never...
(1263-1255 BC short chronology) would complain bitterly to Ḫattušili III
Hattusili III
Hattusili III was a king of the Hittite empire ca. 1267–1237 BC . He was the fourth and last son of Mursili II...
about the failure to return loaned artisans, but Ḫattušili countered that the, now probably elderly, physician was free to go as he pleased.