Amel-Marduk

Relatives:

• Father: Nebuchadnezzar
• Mother: Amytis (?)
• Sister: Kasšaya (married to Neriglissar)

Main deeds:

• Original name: Nabû-šuma-ukîn
• Falls victim to a court conspiracy; is sent to jail, where he meets former king Jehoiachin of Judah
• Before Ulûlu 566: released; he accepts a new name, Amel-Marduk ("Man of Marduk")
• 562: Becomes king after the death of his father
• Releases Jehoiachin (2 Kings 25.27-30; more...)
• 560: Overthrown by his brother-in-law Neriglissar; killed

Literature:

• Irving Finkel, "The Lament of Nabû-šuma-ukîn" in J. Renger (ed.), Babylon. Focus mesopotamischer Geschichte, Wiege früher Gelehrtsamkeit, Mythos in der Moderne (1999 Saaerbrücken) 323-341