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The great gods Nergal, Nabu, and Shamash come from their respective shrines to do homage to Marduk. Ashurbanabal's brother Shamash-shumukin, when he attempts as governor of Babylon to make himself independent of his brother, endeavors by means of sacrifices and other devices to secure the favor of Marduk, well aware that in this way he will also gain the support of the Babylonians.
Next came a war with Elam, ending in its subjection to Assyria, for the first time in history. But with success. Assurbanipal grew arrogant in his attitude to his brother, the King of Babylon, and a fratricidal war resulted in the defeat and death of Shamash-shumukin and the capture of the rival capital.
See Nebuchadnezzar's Inscription, IR. 56, col v. ll. 38-54. So, e.g. during the closing years of Nabonnedos' reign. Winckler, Untersuchungen zur Altorient. On the meaning and importance of the rite, see Winckler, Zeits. f. Assyr. ii. 302-304, and Lehmann's Shamash-shumukin, pp. 44-53. Eponym List, IIR. 52, no. 1 obv. 45.
The Babylonians, no doubt, were offended by such an act, and in order to conciliate them, Ashurbanabal, who pursues a mild policy towards the south, orders the statue to be restored at the time that he appoints his brother Shamash-shumukin as governor of the southern provinces. Ib. p. 53, note. Ashurnasirbal's Inscription, IR. 23, col. ii. l. 134. See above, p. 462.
Babylonia was the cause of much trouble to Ashurbanabal, owing chiefly to the intrigues of his treacherous brother Shamash-shumukin. Ashurbanabal at one time was not merely in danger of losing control over the south, but of losing his life in the rebellion organized by his 'faithless brother. A successful rebellion is a clear sign of a god's displeasure.
He proceeds to Babylon on the occasion of the formal installation of his brother Shamash-shumukin as viceroy of the district, enters the temple of Marduk, whom he does not hesitate to call 'the lord of lords, performs the customary rites, and closes the ceremonies by a fervent prayer to Marduk for his continued good will and blessing.
A late ruler of Babylon Shamash-shumukin calls her the queen of the gods, and declares himself to have been nominated by her to lord it over men. A factor in this amalgamation of Erua and Sarpanitum was the close association brought about in Babylon between Marduk and a god whose seat was originally at the Persian Gulf Ea.
Before starting on the expedition, he had realised the impossibility of a permanent amalgamation of Assyria and Babylon, notwithstanding his personal affection for Babylon. Accordingly, he designated as his successors his two sons. Assurbanipal was to be King of Assyria, and Shamash-shumukin King of Babylon, under the suzerainty of his brother.
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