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The Wheel of the Year in Mesopotamia starts at the Vernal Equinox. This is celebrated as zagmu, “the turning of the year.” (Note 1) At this time, the major festival of Akitu focuses on the Gods returning to their cities for the new year. Then, the Gods are re-installed as the leaders of each city. The spring harvest of barley is blessed. At the end of Akitu festival, the Gods determine the destiny of the people for the coming year.

 

The Akitu (New Year’s) Festival is one of the most complex and important ceremonies in Mesopotamia. Starting at the Spring Equinox, this festival continues for twelve days. It involves purification, the re-establishment of creation, and the re-affirmation of life, death, and the family. The rituals re-enforce the bonds of the community between the people, their Gods, and leaders. (In Ancient Mesopotamia, elaborate and lengthy rituals for the Akitu were conducted. Modern followers of the Mesopotamian Gods have a much simpler ceremony.)

 

During the Akitu, the God’s statue is taken on the Boat of Heaven to the Akitu house outside the city walls. (This is the house where the God resides when They are on the earth.) During the first three days, offerings are made at the Boat of Heaven and at the Akitu house – during daybreak, evening, and midnight. Afterwards, the statue of the God is taken through the city and welcomed.

 

Originally, the Akitu focused on Nanna-Suen, the Moon God. He is the God of Time, measuring the months by the waxing and waning of the moon. Later each city held the Akitu festival for their principal Gods. The Nippur Compendium lists the Gods for the Akitu (Note 2). According to Mark Cohen, Akitu festivals were celebrated at Uruk for Anu, Beltu-sa-Uruk, and Usur-amassa; at Babylon for Marduk and Nabu, at Nippur for Marduk, Ninurta, and Nanna-Sin.

 

The Ishtar Gate lists a ritual for modern Sumerian Polytheists to follow. The following is a summary:

Day before Akitu: Reflect on the past year.

Day 1. Remove the statues from your altar to a ceremonial Akitu-House.

Day 2. Make offerings at the Akitu-House. Reflect on the Gods in your life.

Day 3. Read the “Enuma Elish”

Day 4. Day of Atonement. Reflect on how to do better in the coming year.

Day 5. Clean your home, take a bath, and clean the altar.

Day 6. Praise the Gods. Read “Enki and the World Order.”

Day 7. Take statues back to the altar and make offerings.

 

Notes:

 

Note 1. “Zagmu” translates to “the New Year” or “Spring.” It is believed that the term denoted the spring fruit, or the yield of the first month.

 

Note 2. Nippur Compendium:

Marduk ,for His Supreme Divinity

Ninurta, for His Father Enlil

Ishtar (Inanna), the Queen of Nippur

Nanna-Sin

 

Sources:

Jeremy Black and Anthony Green, “Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia”

Mark Cohen, “Festivals and Calendars of the Ancient Near East.”

The Ishtar Gate, https://theishtargate.com/

The beginning of the Babylonian year starts at the Spring Equinox. (Note 1) This turning of the year is called zagmu, “the border of the year.” (Note 2) At this time, people take stock, review their personal affairs, and check their financial accounts. Then they affirm the Gods as the supreme authorities of the cosmos.

 

According to Assyrian Astrolabe B, Nisannu, the first month of the year is for Nanna (Sin), the God of the Moon. “The month Nisannu, the dais of Anua King is removed and a King is installed; a good start for Anu and Enlil; the month of Nanna-Suen, the first-born of Enlil.” An incantation from Nimrud reiterates this: “May the month Nisannu, (the month) of Anu and Enlil, absolve! The first month belonged to the First of the Gods.”

 

During Nisannu (the new moon after the equinox) the Akitu, the New Year Festival is held for twelve days. It starts with purifications, and then the “Enuma Elish” (the Babylonian Creation Epic) is read. This myth begins with the original creation of the world by Tiamat, the Goddess of Chaos, and Apsu, the God of Waters. Later Anu, a God from the succeeding generation becomes the “Father of the Gods.” Eventually, He cedes his powers to Enlil, from yet a newer generation of Gods, who seeks to overthrow the original Gods. After Enlil kills Apsu, Tiamat wages war on the newer Gods. In desperation, Enlil goes to Marduk, the principal deity of Babylon, for help. On the condition that He is made the Ruler of the Gods, Marduk agrees. After killing Tiamat, Marduk remakes the world from her body.

 

During the Akitu, Marduk disappears. While his and Nabu’s temples are being cleansed, the people search for Him. At this time, they carry the statues of the other Gods to Marduk’s temple. Meanwhile, Nabu, the Scribe of the Gods and Marduk’s Minister, searches for and then frees Marduk from the Underworld. Then in his temple, the priests re-enthroned Marduk as the Ruler of the Gods. (Note 3) Afterwards, they do divination for the coming year. The festival ends with celebrations and the return of the Gods to their shrines. (Note 4)

 

Meanwhile to begin the growing season, the King would enact a sacred marriage with the temple priestess of Ishtar (Inanna). Their mating is to reaffirm the marriage of Ishtar, the Goddess of Fertility, with her husband, Tammuz (Dumuzi). These marriage rites ensure that the King is accepted as one of the Gods, and blessed by Ishtar, who also blesses the crops.

 

Notes:

Note 1. The Babylonians had a lunar calendar and added months beyond the 12-month year. They kept their year keyed to the equinoxes. Between 1750 – 1500 BCE, they standardized their calendar – the Standard Mesopotamian Calendar to unify their empire.

 

Note 2. “Zagmu” translates to “the New Year” or “Spring.” It is believed that the term denoted the spring fruit, or the yield of the first month.

 

Note 3. This called the “Installation of the King,” which could either mean Marduk, Himself or a human king.

 

Note 4. The Stages of the Pageantry for Marduk are

 

At His Temple

Between curtains

At His Sacred Dwelling

On the Throne of Destinies

Procession through the streets

Journey by barge

Residing at the Akitu House

After His Temple is cleansed, the stages are reversed.