Akitu Festival: Springtime in Mesopotamia
- Sylvia Rose
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
The Akitu festival falls on the first day of the Babylonian and Assyrian month of Nisan near the Spring Equinox (March or April). Akitu marks the arrival of spring, the sowing of barley and renewal of the agricultural cycle.
The Akitu festival dates back to the Sumerian New Year festival known as Zagmuk. It's a time of rebirth and joy Akitu first emerges in ancient Babylon and Assyria.
Zodiac and lunar calendars determine wth timing. The festival spans several days and includes public celebrations and religious ceremonies.
Elaborate feasts go on for twelve days. Animal sacrifices and offerings of grain are made to the gods, which then feed the masses, imparting blessings of the deities, with strong pastoral and agricultural connections.
Barley is central to the festival and economy. A main crop, it provides a reliable food source. It's essential for brewing beer, a beverage sacred to beer goddesses Ninkasi and Siris.
Akitu celebrates rebirth of nature, triumph of order over chaos, and the divine mandate legitimizing the ruling dynasty. All members of the city, regardless of their station, and even slaves participate in the festivities.
From the awilu (the upper class), to the muskena (the middle class), and the wardu (the lower class), everyone contributes to collective joy and share in the hope for a prosperous year. The King is an active participant.
Specific rituals of Akitu vary over time and place, but core elements are consistent.
Temple Cleansing and Purification: Before festivities began, the temples are cleaned and purified to welcome the gods.
Re-enactment of Creation: A major component of Akitu is the dramatic re-enactment of the Enūma Eliš. The myth comprises seven tablets describing creation of the world, a struggle between gods, like battles of Marduk and Chaos Sea Goddess Tiamat.
In the Epic of Creation Tiāmat gives birth (alādu) to monstrous serpents, described as mušmaḫḫū,
"with sharp teeth, merciless fangs, instead of blood she filled their bodies with venom."
The myth covers the creation of humans, destined for the service of the Mesopotamian deities. Humans are made to replace the Igigi, first servants of the gods, who rebel. The myth ends with a passage praising Marduk.
Humiliation of the King: In Babylon the king is stripped of his royal insignia and publicly confesses his sins to the High Priest. The act of humility purifies the king and ensures continued favor of the gods upon his reign.
The gods give the King and his family the divine right to rule. After confession he's symbolically reinstated, signifying a renewed covenant between the ruler and the divine.
In other versions, the King must spend the night in a reed prison, stripped of rank, while laments and prayers are sung around him. The High Priest might slap him in the face so hard he cries.
Sacred Marriage: A major ritual is the hieros gamos, or sacred marriage, symbolizing the union of the main god (variable) with a goddess. This ensures fertility of the land and prosperity of the kingdom.
The hieros gamos appears frequently in alchemy. It refers to the sexual union of the Red King and White Queen, or a union of opposites, necessary to create the divine hermaphrodite.
At Akitu the hieros gamos is a sexual coupling of the King with a High Priestess. Some consider it symbolic rather than physical act; but sexuality in ancient Mesopotamia doesn't bear the same stigma as it does today.
In Mesopotamia and Assyria, monogamy is the norm but polygyny may be practiced by both rulers and commoners. Women are not known for taking multiple husbands, but have the right to divorce a man and get another.
An example of sexual norms is prostitution. Not only is it legal, it's a profession sacred to Inanna Goddess Queen of Heaven. In one famous tale, wild man Enkidu is "civilized" by a sacred prostitute.
In Mesopotamia, Nanaya is the goddess of erotic love. She has an important place in the entourage of Inanna and is often listed with love goddess Bizilla.
Processions: Throughout the festival, elaborate processions wind through the city. They carry statues of the gods and goddesses, accompanied by music and dancing. People wear colorful garb and flowers like daffodils, jonquils, tulips and irises bloom everywhere.
Death of the King: In the Zagmuk festivities the king is killed so he can live again, proving his divine connection, or battle at the side of Marduk. This is either a ritual death, or a prisoner or a criminal is appointed King at start of festivities, enjoying all benefits and later slain in his stead.
Many of these concepts carry over into the Saturnalia of ancient Rome, Feast of Fools or Narrenfest in Germany and the Lord of Misrule in Engand.
Today, the Akitu festival survives as a symbol of identity and cultural heritage for Assyrian communities throughout the world. Though rituals have changed, the spirit of celebration lives on.
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