King Nebuchadnezzar’s bestial painting by William Blake. Credit:
en.wikipedia.org/
Ancient Babylon had its final period of prosperity in the
sixth century BC. Nebuchadnezzar, the son of King Nabopolassar, succeeded even
more in reviving the empire. In addition to his political choices, the king
gained fame for building the Tower of Babel and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon,
two global wonders.
It is important to note that Nebuchadnezzar's name should be
pronounced Nabû-kudurri-usur, which translates to "God Nabû, protect my
borders." The millions of bricks that currently rest in the ruins of the
Tower of Babel, as reported by Herodotus, bear this name etched on them. Sorry
to those who think the scriptures are fairy tales.
The crown prince's early years are largely unknown; however,
he actively studied the art of combat and led an army alongside his father in
607–606 BC. He quickly altered many facets of Babylon's legal and social
structure after beginning his career with victorious military expeditions.
Nebuchadnezzar became well-known as a young monarch for his
conquests in the Middle East, including his three invasions of Jerusalem and
Judea. The biblical kingdom of David and Solomon had already been divided into
two states at that point, while the Assyrians ravaged northern Israel and stole
its people.
Only a tiny portion of southern Judea survived, and it
joined the Egyptians as an ally. Nebuchadnezzar II started what the Old
Testament refers to as the "New Testament of Israel" to crush any
opposition. "The Babylonian captivity." The Jewish royal family,
members of the nobility, and powerful individuals who could bring the populace
together were all taken prisoner by Nebuchadnezzar.
A crucial turning point in the history of Judaism was the
king's decision to transfer them to Mesopotamia. The Jews recalled what
happened to the ten lost tribes, the northern Israelite tribes that vanished in
Asia after being fully integrated. They became ardent followers of monotheism
as a result, setting them apart from the Semitic pagans.
The Jews in a foreign land endured numerous trials in an
attempt to convert them to paganism, which further damaged the king's character
in their eyes. The king also developed a mental illness in his later years. He
was only cured when he recognized the Jewish God, Yahweh, as the God of gods
and declared it throughout his kingdom.
In the Old Testament, the king of Babylon and Assyria is
depicted as a tyrant and oppressor of the Jewish people. According to the text,
during the last years of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar, who believed himself to be
God, fell ill with a terrible and strange disease that plagued him for seven
years.
The Book of Daniel describes how God punished Nebuchadnezzar
for his conceit: "And they will drive you out from among the people, and
you will live with the wild animals; they will feed you with grass like an ox,
and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules
over the kingdom of man and gives it to whomever He wishes!
"And the word was fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar, and he
was cut off from among men, and he ate grass like an ox, and his body was
watered with dew from heaven, so that his hair grew like a lion's, and his
nails were like a bird's." - Daniel 4:28-30.
The biblical account claims that King Nebuchadnezzar lived
apart from humans and shared food with animals just as Daniel had prophesied. These
symptoms have been linked by contemporary scientists to lycanthropy, a
particular type of psychosis. A mental disorder called lycanthropy causes a
person to think they have changed into an animal, and sometimes they may behave
like animals in extreme situations.
Nebuchadnezzar II ruled for forty-three years, and Babylonia
rose to prominence as the Ancient Near East's most powerful state during this
period. Babylon itself was elevated to the status of the greatest metropolis of
its time, and the population reached 200,000, according to ancient historians,
protected by three formidable fortress walls that had no comparable
counterparts.
William Blake, an English poet, painter, and printmaker who
was born in November 1757 and passed away on August 12, 1827, created an
artwork depicting King Nebuchadnezzar in a beastly state, crawling with a long
golden beard, dragging on the ground, with long nails.