Mar-Issar, the deputy of king Aššur-Aḫi-Iddina in Babylon (680-669 B.C)

This article aims to study the character of Mar-Issar, one of most prominent political and administrative figures during the reign of king Aššur-Aḫi-Iddina (680-669 B.C.) and who held the position of the king’s deputy in Babylon and the southern cities of Mesopotamia. He enjoyed a special significance in the royal court due to his administrative and professional experience. Therefore, king Aššur-Aḫi-Iddina assigned to him many official duties. His duties were identified through the various letters and reports he sent to the king, which addressed issues such as the administration of Babylonian temples, building and renovating temples, the construction of the statues of gods, his major duty of astrology and the interpretation of astronomical phenomena, and managing the security file in the cities of Babylon and submitting his detailed reports and observations to the King.