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'''Akitu''' or '''Akitum''' (Sumerian and Chaldean language: {{sc|ezen á.ki.tum}}, ''akiti-šekinku'', {{sc|á.ki.ti.še.gur₁₀.ku₅}}, {{abbr|lit.|Literally}} "the barley-cutting",{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} ''akiti-šununum'', {{abbr|lit.|Literally}} "barley-sowing"; [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]]: ''{{lang|akk-Latn|akitu}}'' or ''{{lang|akk-Latn|rêš-šattim}}'', "head of the year") was a [[spring festival]] in ancient [[Mesopotamia]].The Chaldean Babylonian Akitu festival has played a pivotal role in the Chaldean heritage and development of rituals. An important event marking the beginning of new Spring in Mesopotamia by the Chaldean people.<ref>The Chaldean Babylonian Akitu Festival: Rectifying the King or Renewing the Cosmos? (n.d.): n. pag. Web.</ref>
'''Akitu''' or '''Akitum''' (Chaldean Akkadian and Summerian languages: ''á.ki.tum'', ''akiti-šekinku'', {{abbr|lit.|Literally}} "the barley-cutting" ''akiti-šununum'', {{abbr|lit.|Literally}} "barley-sowing"; [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]]: ''{{lang|akk-Latn|akitu}}'' or ''{{lang|akk-Latn|rêš-šattim}}'', "head of the year") was a [[spring festival]] in ancient [[Mesopotamia]].The Chaldean Babylonian Akitu festival was celebrated originally in Babylon and has played a pivotal role in the Chaldean heritage and development of rituals. An important event marking the beginning of new Spring in Mesopotamia by the Chaldean people.<ref>The Chaldean Babylonian Akitu Festival: Rectifying the King or Renewing the Cosmos? (n.d.): n. pag. Web.</ref>
[[File:Akitu 7321 T1.jpg|thumb|Akitu 7321 T1thumb|Akitu Chaldean New Year 7321]]
[[File:Akitu 7319 Enhanced 125 pixels.jpg|thumb|Akitu Chaldean Year 7319]]
[[File:Akitu 7321 Lion.PNG|thumb|Akitu 7321 T0|thumb|Akitu Chaldean New Year 7321]]
[[File:Akitu Festival 7317.jpg|thumb|Akitu Festival by Chaldeans of Babylon]]
The name is from the Chaldean Akkadian and Sumerian for "[[barley]]", originally marking two festivals celebrating the beginning of each of the two half-years of the Sumerian calendar, marking the sowing of barley in autumn and the cutting of barley in spring. In [[Babylonian religion]] it came to be dedicated to [[Marduk]]'s victory over [[Tiamat]].
Following the first new moon after the vernal equinox in late March, the Chaldean Babylonians of Mesopotamia would honor the rebirth of the natural world with a multi-day festival called Akitu. This early New Year’s celebration dates back to around 5700 B.C., and is believed to have been deeply intertwined with religion and mythology. During the Akitu, statues of the gods were paraded through the city streets, and rites were enacted to symbolize their victory over the forces of chaos. Through these rituals the Babylonians believed the world was symbolically cleansed and recreated by the gods in preparation for the new year and the return of spring.
The festival - better: conglomerate of festivities - was celebrated on two locations in Babylon: in the temple of the supreme god Marduk, the Esagila, and the 'house of the New year' which was situated north of the city. The two gods who were in the center of the festival were Nabû and his father, the supreme god Marduk, who was in the first millennium BCE usually called 'Bêl', Lord, because his real name was considered too holy to be pronounced.
One fascinating aspect of the Akitu involved a kind of ritual humiliation endured by the Babylonian king. This peculiar tradition saw the king brought before a statue of the god Marduk, stripped of his royal regalia and forced to swear that he had led the city with honor. A high priest would then slap the monarch and drag him by his ears in the hope of making him cry. If royal tears were shed, it was seen as a sign that Marduk was satisfied and had symbolically extended the king’s rule. Some historians have since argued that these political elements suggest the Akitu was used by the monarchy as a tool for reaffirming the king’s divine power over his people.
==Babylonian Akitu==
The Babylonian festival traditionally starts on 21 [[Adar]] - 1 [[Nisannu]]. March 21st to April 1st for 12 days.The festival - better: conglomerate of festivities - was celebrated on two locations in Babylon: in the temple of the supreme god Marduk, the Esagila, and the 'house of the New year' which was situated north of the city. The two gods who were in the center of the festival were Nabû and his father, the supreme god Marduk, who was in the first millennium BCE usually called 'Bêl', Lord, because his real name was considered too holy to be pronounced.
===First to third Day===
===Sixth Day===
Before the gods arrived, the day would be filled with commotion. The puppets that were made on the third day would be burned and mock battle would be taking place as well. This commotion signified that without Marduk, the city would be in constant chaos.<ref name="Britannica">"Middle Eastern religion". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web.</ref> The arrival of [[God]] [[Nabu]] in boats accompanied by his assistants of brave Gods coming from [[Nippur]], [[Uruk]], [[Kish (Sumer)|Kish]], and Eridu (cities ancient Babylonia). The Gods accompanying Nabu would be represented by statues which would be mounted on boats made especially for the occasion. Here the people in huge numbers would begin their walk behind their king towards the Esagila where Marduk is held prisoner, chanting the following :"Here's he who's coming from far to restore the glory of our imprisoned father".
[[File:29746114 10214503058944777 2120035821 n.png|thumb|Akitu Chaldean Year]]
===Seventh Day===
==References==
{{Reflist}} 1- The Babylonian Akitu Festival: Rectifying the King or Renewing the Cosmos? (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 2- The Babylonian Akitu Festival by Svend Aage Pallis Review by: S. S.The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland , No. 4 (Oct., 1927) , pp. 895-897. 3- "The Akitu-Festival - Www.GatewaysToBabylon.com." The Akitu-Festival - Www.GatewaysToBabylon.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 4- Gard, Carolyn. "Akitu The Babylonian New Year's Festival." Calliope 11.3 (2000): 36. MAS Ultra - School Edition.
==Bibliography==