BABYLON AND PERSIA

"KURUSH, THE KING, THE AKHMMENIAN," 325to Babel," with the exception of those of Borsip,Kutha, and Sippar. That this sealed the king'sdoom, we can see from the tone assumed by thepriestly scribes in the " Proclamation Cylinder "which they indited for Kyros after the fall of Na¬bonidus :" At this desecration," they exclaim withpious' horror, " the Lord of Gods was exceedinglywroth, and all the gods inhabiting Babylon desertedtheir shrines-." They were no longer seen at festi¬vals and processions, for they had migrated to othercongregations who had reserved places for them.In other words, the priests removed (probably underimpressively mournful ceremonies and in the mostpublic manner), the statues and images of the offendedgods. The effect fully answered their purpose :"Then the people of Shumir and Accad, who hadbeen left in darkness, prayed to Marduk to return.He granted their prayer, returned, and rejoiced theland." But not unconditionally. The god, while herestored to favor his unoffending worshippers, couldnot tolerate the presence of an impious ruler: "Andhe [Marduk] selected aking to conduct after' hisheart what he committed to his hands.He pro¬claimed the nameof Kurash, king of the city ofAnshan, to be king over the whole country, and toall people he declared his title. . . . To his own cityof Babel he summoned him to march, and he causedhim to take the road to Tintir; like a friend andbenefactor he conducted his army."It is impossibleto state more plainly, that the priesthood of Babylonplotted against their king, betrayed him, and calledin the enemy.