The priests were married, and lived with their wives and children, either in the sacred structure itself, or in its immediate neighborhood.

They were supported either by lands belonging to the temple, or by the offerings of the faithful.

These consisted in general of animals, chiefly oxen and goats; but other valuables were no doubt received when tendered.

The priest always intervened between the worshipper and the deities, presenting him to them and interceding with uplifted hands on his behalf.
In the temple of Bel at Babylon, and probably in most of the other temples both there and elsewhere throughout the country, a great festival was celebrated once in the course of each year.

We know little of the ceremonies with which these festivals were accompanied; but we may presume from the analogy of other nations that there were magnificent processions on these occasions, accompanied probably with music and dancing.