Bel-Ibni had to run to take his place at the front of the procession. That combined with his frayed nerves made the portly old man sweat even more. IshmeAdad walked in front with Bel-Ibni at his side. The gods were now securely placed on the sleds, along with their attendants and they began their move down the street, "May the enemy not have victory", a section of road that entered the city through the Ishtar Gate. It is now the 6th day of Akitu. The procession was joined by the other gods and their priests and dignitaries.

Though he'd been a part of this procession for many years as a part of his priestly duties, the beauty of the gate never failed to take his breath way. This approach to the city took the priests, workers and young king between high walls decorated with rows of lions, sixty on each side. The Ishtar Gate itself was covered with pictures of bulls, sacred to Marduk and pictures of dragons, sacred to Nabu. One of the eight gates that led to the city, it had massive doors covered in bronze. From the Ishtar Gate, the procession slowly made its way down the Processional Way as it ran parallel to the Euphrates before turning west to pass between Etemenanki and Esagila. (To view the route, click here)

Babylon was the most majestic city Bel-Ibni had ever seen. "No other city in the world could surpass its beauty", he thought as he sweated and sighed. The whole city was protected by formidable fortifications. A double wall of unbaked brick with an encircling moat ran on both sides of the Euphrates. By his day, Babylon had grown to cover both banks of the river.

It was a solemn procession. Nabu will take up residence in his father's temple, Esagila, and tomorrow, along with the other gods, will liberate his father from the ritual representation of the Underworld.

Entemenanki could be seen from every vantage point in the city. Actually it could be seen for many miles around as it dominated the plain. The "House of the Platform of Heaven and Earth" was seven stories and rose to a height of almost 300 feet. This ziggurrat's main mass was of trodden clay with a casing of burnt brick nearly 50 feet thick. A staircase rose about 30 feet wide led up to the first and second stage.

But it was to the south of the Etemenanki enclosure that the procession headed - to the great temple complex of Esagila, "House of the Raised Head". A doorway giving access from the main courtyard opened up into an antechamber similar in shape to the main chapel and ran parallel to it. It was designed so that when both the doors were open, the general populace could see through to the statue of the god himself.

And what a dazzling scene of splendor it was. The whole of the interior of the main chapel was overlaid with gold up to and including the rafters. On a pedestal inside the chapel stood the golden images of Marduk and his consort Sarpanitum. All the images - the gods and their attendants were heavily decorated with gold and precious stones and dressed in rich gowns. Nabu's temple complex of Ezidu was built on the same plan as his father's but not nearly as magnificent. Bel-Ibni raised an eyebrow. He was certain these priests never had to ride with the divine attendants.

The doors were closed after the gods entered, not to be opened again until the eighth day when Marduk and Nabu will return to Babylon to proceed to the First Determination of Destiny.

IshmeAdad joined his father, the great king, Zig Apilsin.

Bel-Ibni, along with the priests for the other gods, settled in the temple along with their provisions for themselves and their gods.

The background images are from Samarcande's Kilim Bazaar.

The clipart is from Phillip Martin's Mesopotamian Clip Art .

Map of Babylon courtesy of www.livius.org