The Chaldeans

Following the destruction of Nineveh Nabopolassar, who created the Chaldean dynasty and participated in the Mede and Babylonian invasion of Assyria, forced the Assyrians into northwestern Mesopotamia. His son, Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC), assumed military control in Assyria and continued the removal of the Assyrians and their Egyptian supporters. Before Nebuchadnezzar could invade Egypt itself he learned that Nabopolassar had died, so he returned directly to Babylon, the Babylonian capital. There, he assumed the position of king. However, by 539 BC, Babylon had been conquered by Cyrus, ruler of Persia, and Mesopotamia was merged with the Persian empire.

Nebuchadnezzar is perhaps best known for his elaborate Babylonian building projects. This king created the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, a terraced garden supposedly built to remind Nebuchadnezzar's wife of her mountainous homeland. The Ishtar Gate was another of Nebuchadnezzar's great accomplishments. It was located near the Hanging Gardens and decorated with reliefs of various creatures, including dragons and bulls.

During the Chaldean period Nebuchadnezzar also worked to spur religious revival in Babylonia. The gods that ruled the universe were equated with one of the planets. Ishtar (goddess of life, fertility, sexual love, and war), for example, was equated with the planet Venus. Using their great skills in astronomy, the Chaldeans also used the movement and positions of the planets and stars to predict the plan of the gods and thus, the future. Astronomy was also utilized to create a method of time based upon a seven-day week, as well as days comprised of twelve 120-minute hours.

Sources:

Tom B. Jones, "Babylonia," Grolier Electronic Encyclopedia, 1993; Samuel Noah Kramer, Cradle of Civilization, New York: Time Incorporated, 1969; World History, Volume One, St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company, 1991.