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There is no reason why Nabu should have been added as a deity in later times, and in general we must be on our guard against assuming new deities subsequent to Hammurabi. It is much more plausible to assume the restored popularity of very old ones. Bel being Marduk, the title was equivalent to that of 'governor of Babylonia. So, Tiele, Geschichte d. Religion i. Alterthum, i. 191.
As often as the Assyrian monarchs may have had occasion to proceed to Babylonia and the occasions were frequent, owing to the constant disposition of the south to throw off the hated yoke they emphasized their devotion to Marduk, Nabu, En-lil, Shamash, and the other gods who had their seats in the south.
This theory of the quasi-artificial character and origin of Tashmit finds support in the manner in which the mention of her name is entwined with that of Nabu. Sarpanitum, bound up as the goddess is with Marduk, has at least a shrine of her own, and occasionally she is spoken of in the texts without her husband Marduk. The mention of Tashmitum, however, invariably follows that of Nabu.
At various times, as we have seen, Nabu formed a serious rival to Marduk, and it will be recalled that up to a late period we find Nabu given the preference to Marduk in official documents. The inseparable association of E-Sagila and E-Zida is a tribute to Nabu which, we may feel certain, the priests of Marduk did not offer willingly.
Marduk, as we have seen, was not often appealed to by the Assyrian kings, but Nabu seemed always ready to help them. Hence the king confesses his sins and makes an appeal to the great Babylonian god and not to Ashur. He is encouraged by the promise that his life will be spared, and that his supremacy will be recognized in Babylonia.
Sub Nusku, chapter xiii. Tiele, Geschichte d. Religion i. Alterthum, i. 171 and 188, is of the opinion that Nabu is a late deity whose worship dates from a period considerably subsequent to Hammurabi. This conclusion from the non-occurrence of the god in early inscriptions is not justified.
Whether, however, this was the real meaning of the name is doubtful, for the name of the goddess is also written Aru and Arua, which points to a different verbal stem. See below under Tashmitum. There are indications also of an arrested amalgamation of Erua-Sarpanitum with Tashmitum, the wife of Nabu. Rawlinson, ii. 60, 30. Hibbert Lectures, p. 117. See further on, sub Ea. Kosmologie, p. 239.
Nadan could not advise him what to do, and he bitterly regretted that Ikkor, the man of wisdom, was no longer by his side to advise him. "I would give one-fourth of my kingdom to bring Ikkor to life again," he exclaimed. Hearing these words, Nabu Samak, the executioner, fell on his knees and confessed that Ikkor was alive. "Bring him hither at once," cried the king.
It would almost appear so from Agum's utter omission of Nabu. Only the statues of Marduk and Sarpanitum seem to have been robbed by the Hani. Not a word is said as to Nabu.
Exactly to what class of deities she belonged, we are no longer able to say, but it is certain that at some time, probably about the time of Hammurabi, an amalgamation took place between her and another goddess known as Erua, a name that etymologically suggests the idea of 'begetting. She is represented as dwelling in the temple of E-Zida at Borsippa, and was originally the consort of Nabu, the chief god of this place.
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