AKITU

AKITU: translation

Akkadian term for the New Year festivities that took place around the spring equinox, when the crops of the winter barley were harvested. Such celebrations occurred in most Mesopotamian cities and have an ancient origin; those performed at Babylon are known best because of textual evidence. The week-long festival involved the participation of all the major Babylonian deities, represented by their cult statues, although the protagonist was the god Marduk, whose role as founder of cosmic order was emphasized by the recitation of the Epic of Creation. The festival was also an important opportunity to affirm and legitimize kingship, symbolized by the grasping of Marduk’s hand by the ruler.

See also RELIGION.