Editing Marduk (section)

=== Middle Babylonian period ===
{{Main|Middle Babylonian period}}
In the Kassite period, theophoric names containing Marduk grew to over 10%, and the local temple to Marduk in Nippur was firmly integrated and well established.{{sfn|Sommerfield|1987|p=364}} The Kassite kings sometimes gave Marduk pompous epithets,{{sfn|Sommerfield|1987|p=364}} showing Marduk's growing popularity, however Enlil still ranks as the most important Mesopotamian god, still heading the list along with Anu and Ea. At least five Kassite kings bore theophoric names containing Enlil,{{sfn|Beaulieu|2018|p=139}} and Kassite kings, especially [[Nazi-Maruttash]] and [[Kudur-Enlil]], are known to have visited Nippur at the beginning of the year.{{sfn|Tenney|2016|p=160}} Kurigalzu calls himself the "regent of Enlil"{{sfn|Lambert|2013|p=266}} and [[Dur-Kurigalzu|Dur-Kurigalzu's]] temple complex holds temples to Enlil, Ninlil and Ninurta.{{sfn|Malko|2017|p=481}}

There are two administrative documents from Nippur from the reigns of two Kassite kings, perhaps Nazi-Maruttash and [[Shagarakti-Shuriash]], that mention the celebration of the [[akitu]] festival connected to Marduk.{{sfn|Tenney|2016|p=158}} Another text claims the late Kassite king [[Adad-shuma-usur]] embarked on a pilgrimage from Babylon to [[Borsippa]] and [[Kutha]], Marduk, [[Nabu]] and [[Nergal]] respectively.{{sfn|Tenney|2016|p=160}} However, there are reasons to doubt the historicity of these texts, especially the alleged journey of Adad-shuma-usur since the trio of Marduk, Nabu and Nergal fit the ideology of the 1st millennium BC.{{sfn|Tenney|2016|p=160}} Nonetheless, the texts could be evidence that the rise of Marduk was a gradual process that began before Nebuchadnezzar I.{{sfn|Tenney|2016|p=161}} Similarly, in the god list [[An = Anum]] the number 50, Enlil's number, was assigned to Marduk instead.{{sfn|Lambert|1984|p=3}}

A private document dating to the reign of [[Ashur-uballit I]] in Assyria refers to a sanctuary of Marduk in the city of [[Assur]]. A gate of Marduk was also attested in Assur in the 13th Century.{{sfn|Frame|1999|p=13}} Similar to the Neo-Assyrian period, Marduk was mentioned to receive offerings and gifts in Assur. In the Coronation text of Tukulti-Ninurta, Marduk even received the same amount of offerings as [[Ashur (god)|Ashur]].{{sfn|Frame|1999|p=13}} The statue of Marduk was carried off by [[Tukulti-Ninurta I]] to Assyria, where it would stay until it was returned. The cult of Marduk in Assyria would remain attested in the Neo-Assyrian period.

Marduk was found in Ugarit in an Akkadian hymn that may have been part of the scribal school curriculum.{{sfn| Ayali-Darshan|2022|p=39}}

During the Kassite period, Nabu, previously the scribe of Marduk, came to be viewed as Marduk's son.{{sfn|Beaulieu|2018|p=157}}