Merodach
Merodach, more commonly spelled Marduk in Akkadian sources, is one of the major deities of ancient Mesopotamian religion. He is the patron god of the city of Babylon and, by the late third to first centuries BCE, the chief deity of the Babylonian and broader Assyro-Babylonian pantheon. In myth he embodies order, justice and creation, and he is closely linked with rain and fertility through his control of waters.
Etymology and development: The exact origin of the name is uncertain, and Merodach is a Hebrew/Greek rendering
Mythology and role: In Enuma Elish, Marduk defeats the chaos goddess Tiamat, creates the heavens and the
Cult and worship: Babylon was the primary cult center for Marduk, with major temples Esagil and Esagila.
Iconography: Marduk is typically depicted as a bearded king wearing a horned crown, and often shown with
Historical notes: The form Merodach appears in later historical and biblical texts as a transcription of Marduk.