Since Nergal, as was shown in the previous chapter, was the local patron of Cuthah, it may be that the latter city was included in the Namar district.

At all events, we may conclude from the silence of the texts as to Nergal, that Cuthah played no conspicuous part in the empire formed of the Babylonian states, and that the cult of Nergal, apart from the association of the deity in religious texts with the lower world, did not during this entire period extend beyond local proportions.

Lastly, it is interesting to note that Samsu-iluna, the son of Hammurabi, refers to Belit of Nippur as Nin-khar-sag, which we have seen was one of her oldest titles.
FOOTNOTES: [116] The name is also written Ma-ru-duk, which points to its having been regarded (for which there is other evidence) as a compound of _maru_, 'son,' and an element, _duk_( _u_), which in religious and other texts designates the 'glorious chamber' in which the god determines the fate of humanity.

Such an 'etymology' is, however, merely a play upon the name, similar to the plays upon proper names found in the Old Testament.

The real etymology is unknown.