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It has been satisfactorily shown that Marduk was originally a solar deity. His association with Babylon, therefore, must be viewed in the same light as the association of Sin, the moon-god, with the city of Ur, and the association of Shamash, the sun-god, with Larsa and Sippar.

These kings of Agade extended their jurisdiction as far north, at least, as Nippur on the one side and Sippar on the other. It is not until about the middle of the third millennium before this era, that Babylon comes into prominence. In the south, as already intimated, the rulers of Lagash and the dynasty of Ur are the earliest of which we have any record.

The execution of the laws being in the hands of priests in ancient Mesopotamia, the temples were the natural depositories for the official documents of the law courts. Similar collections to those of Sippar have been found in almost every mound of Southern Mesopotamia that has been opened since the days of Rassam.

The northern rulers were anxious at all times to reconcile the southern population to Assyrian control, and it was no doubt gratifying to the south to find Tiglathpileser II., upon entering the ancient centers like Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, Borsippa, Cuthah, Kish, Dilbat, and Erech, proceeding to the temples in those places in order to offer his sacrifices.

The occurrence of some of these gods in the religious literature is a presumption in favor of regarding them as ancient creations, rather than due to later influences. Certainly this appears to be the case with Malik and Bunene, who, with Shamash, form a triad that constitutes the chief object of worship in the great temple E-babbara at Sippar, to whose restored cult Nabubaliddin devotes himself.

In a fragmentary composition that has come down to us he is described, not only as king of Sippar, but as "beloved of Anu, Enlil, and Enki", the three creating gods of our text; and it is there recounted how the patron deities of divination, Shamash and Adad, themselves taught him to practise their art.

It may well be that Shamash was the name given to the god at Sippar, whereas at Ur he may have been known as Utu.

Hammurabi tells us, in one of his inscriptions, that he has restored the temple in honor of Innanna at Hallabi a town near Sippar. Innanna, or Ninni, signifying merely 'lady, or 'great lady, appears to have become a very general name for a goddess, hence the addition 'of Hallabi, which Hammurabi is careful to make.

Sargon goes so far in this homage as to pose as the reorganizer of the cults of Sippar, Nippur, Borsippa, and Babylon, and of restoring the income to temples in other places. But there was another side to this homage that must not be overlooked. By sacrificing in the Babylonian temples, the Assyrian rulers indicated their political control over the south.

Upon completing the restoration of a temple to Nin-karrak or Gula in Sippar, he prays: Nin-karrak, lofty goddess, look with favor upon the work of my hands, Mercy towards me be the command of thy lips, Long life, abundance of strength, Health, and joy, grant to me as a gift. In the presence of Shamash and Marduk cause my deeds to be regarded with favor, Command grace for me.