Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Baal Merodach

Baal Merodach

9.9
The chief god worshipped in ancient Babylon
  • proper noun
  • Literature
: Baal Merodach
  • Priests in Babylon performed rituals in honor of Baal Merodach during the New Year festival.

Examples

  • The temple dedicated to Baal Merodach stood at the heart of the great city of Babylon.

  • In ancient Babylon, Baal Merodach was worshipped as the chief god.

  • Ancient texts frequently mention Baal Merodach as the supreme god worshipped in Babylon.

  • Many temples were dedicated to Baal Merodach throughout Mesopotamia.

  • Ancient texts frequently mention Baal Merodach as the supreme god worshipped in Babylon.

  • Priests in Babylon performed rituals in honor of Baal Merodach during the New Year festival.

  • In ancient Babylon, Baal Merodach was worshipped as the chief god.

Synonyms

Marduk
vsBaal Merodach
  • Literature
3 9.9

The main god of ancient Babylon whom people worship as the city's protector

is framed as the supreme deity for the wider religion, not merely a city patron
Merodach
vsBaal Merodach
  • Literature
1 9.9

The main god worshipped in ancient Babylon, also called Marduk

is presented as the supreme deity without mentioning alternate names
Bel-Merodach
vsBaal Merodach
  • Literature
9.9

The main god in ancient Babylon who people worship as the city's protector

is stated as the supreme deity rather than being described as 'often regarded'

Surface Forms

Baal Merodach main

Morphology

Baal + Merodach

The form is compositional: 'Baal' is a Semitic title meaning 'lord' or 'local deity' and 'Merodach' is the name of the principal Babylonian god, so together they denote the deity Merodach as lord/chief god. A B1 learner who knows both constituents can straightforwardly infer this referential meaning rather than an idiomatic one, so the expression is transparent.

Etymology

Baal Merodach comes from two words used by people in ancient Babylon: Baal meaning 'lord' and Merodach, the name of the city's chief god. People built a great temple and held big festivals for Baal Merodach, so the name came to mean the 'supreme god' of Babylon.