Changes
assyrian clean up, replaced: Assyrian → Chaldean (4)
===Ascent===
[[Image:Cylinder Nabonidus BM WA91128.jpg|thumb|right|Terracotta cylinder by Nabonidus concerning repairs on the temple of [[Sin (mythology)|Sîn]], [[British Museum]]]]
Nabonidus' background is not clear. He said in his inscriptions that he was of unimportant origins.<ref>Collected in Beaulieu 1989.</ref> Similarly, his mother [[Addagoppe of Harran|Addagoppe]], who lived to an old age and may have been connected to the [[temple]] of the [[Lunar Deity|moon-god]] [[Sin (mythology)|Sîn]] in [[Harran]], does not mention her family background in her inscriptions. There are two arguments for an [[Assyria]]n background: repeated references in Nabonidus' royal [[propaganda]] and [[imagery]] to [[Ashurbanipal]], the last great [[Neo-Assyrian Empire|Neo-Assyrian]] king; and Nabonidus' originating from, and his special interest in Harran, an Assyrian Chaldean city and the last stronghold of the Neo-Assyrians Chaldeans after the fall of [[Nineveh]], their main [[Capital city|capital]].<ref>W. Mayer, "Nabonidus Herkunft", in M. Dietrich and O. Loretz (eds.), ''Dubsar anta-men: Studien zur Altorientalistik'' (Münster: Ugarit-Verlag 1998), 245-61; {{cite journal
|quotes =
|author = Parpola, Simo
====Nabonidus' stay in Tayma====
It is not clear yet why Nabonidus stayed in Tayma for so long. His reason for going there seems clear: Tayma was an important oasis, from where lucrative [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabian]] [[trade route]]s could be controlled. The Assyrians Chaldeans before him had already attempted to do the same.<ref>Beaulieu 1989:149-205. On Tayma's importance for trade: C. Edens and G. Bawden, "History of Tayma' and Hejazi trade during the first millennium B.C.", ''Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient'' 32 (1989:48-103).</ref> However, why Nabonidus stayed for so long (probably about ten years, perhaps from 553-543 BC) and why he returned when he did remain unresolved questions. It has been proposed that this was because he did not feel at home in Babylon, which was opposed to his emphasis on Sîn. Regarding his return, this may have had to do with the mounting threat of Cyrus and growing disagreements with Belshazzar, who was relieved of his command directly after Nabonidus had come back, along with a number of administrators.<ref>Beaulieu 1989:149-205.</ref> During his stay, Nabonidus adorned Tayma with a complex of royal buildings, most of which have come to light during recent excavations.<ref>An overview of the history of Tayma, current archaeological work, as well as bibliographical references, are given in {{cite web | title=Deutsches Archäologisches Institut: Tayma | url=http://www.dainst.org/index_3258_en.html | accessdate=2007-10-16}} Also: H. Hayajneh, "First evidence of Nabonidus in the Ancient North Arabian inscriptions from the region of Tayma", ''Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies'' 31 (2001:81-95).</ref>
===The Persian conquest of Babylonia===
Additionally, a building inscription has been found which mentions the restoration of the [[Enlil]] [[Gate]] of Babylon shortly after its capture. Based on this information, the following reconstruction has been proposed:<ref>P. Briant, ''From Cyrus to Alexander: A history of the Persian Empire'' (Winona Lake IN: Eisenbrauns 2002), 50-5, 80-7; G. Tolini, "{{cite web|title = Quelques éléments concernant la prise de Babylon par Cyrus (octobre 539 av. J.-C.)|url = http://www.achemenet.com/ressources/enligne/arta/pdf/2005.003-Tolini.pdf}}", ''Arta'' (2005/03); A. Kuhrt, "{{cite web|title = Ancient Near Eastern history: The case of Cyrus the Great of Persia|url = http://www.proc.britac.ac.uk/tfiles/237224A/143p107.pdf}}", in H.G.M. Williamson (ed.), ''{{cite web|title = Understanding the history of ancient Israel|url = http://www.britac.ac.uk/pubs/cat/pba143.html}}'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press 2007), 107-27.</ref> When Cyrus attempted to march into southern Mesopotamia, he was met by the Babylonians near [[Opis]]. In the ensuing battle, the Persians were victorious. This in turn led to the nearby city of [[Sippar]] surrendering. Meanwhile, the Babylonians had withdrawn south to establish a line of defence near the Euphrates that was intended to prevent Cyrus from advancing too far. However, Cyrus' forces did not challenge the Babylonian army. Rather, he sent a small force south along the [[Tigris]] to try to take the capital by surprise. This plan worked: the Persian troops reached Babylon undetected and caught it unawares, meeting only minor resistance near one of its gates. Thus, they were not only able to capture Babylon, but also King Nabonidus.
This left the Babylonian army in an untenable position and it soon surrendered. In the meantime, [[Gubaru|Ugbaru]], the commander of the Persian forces that had captured Babylon, had taken good care that his men would not plunder or otherwise harm the city. He had even made sure that the temple rites continued to be observed. Nonetheless, it still took Cyrus almost a month before he proceeded towards the city. As many Babylonian officials as well as the Babylonian administrative system stayed in place after the transition of power, it has been surmised that this time was spent on negotiations with representatives from the city;<ref>J. Wiesehöfer, "Kontinuität oder Zäsur? Babylon under den Achaimeniden", in J. Renger (ed.), ''Babylon: Focus Mesopotamischer Geschichte, Wiege früher Gelehrsamheit, Mythos in der Moderne'' (Saarbrücken: SDV 1999), 167-88; M. Jursa, "The transition of Babylonia from the Neo-Babylonian empire to Achaemenid rule", in H. Crawford (ed.), ''Regime change in the ancient Near East and Egypt: From Sargon of Agade to Saddam Hussein'' (New York: Oxford University Press 2007), 73-94.</ref> this is similar to what happened when the Neo-Assyrian Chaldean king [[Sargon II]] and later [[Alexander the Great]] took the city.<ref>Kuhrt 2007 ("'Ex oriente lux'...").</ref>
===Death===
