During the reign of Sennacherib of Assyria, Babylonia has been in a constant state of revolt, led by Mushezib-Marduk, and suppressed only by the complete destruction of the city of Babylon.

In 689 BCE, its walls, temples and palaces are razed, and the rubble is thrown into the Arakhtu, the sea bordering the earlier Babylon on the south.

This act shocks the religious conscience of Mesopotamia; the subsequent murder of Sennacherib is held to be in expiation of it, and his successor Esarhaddon hastens to rebuild the old city, to receive here his crown, and make it his residence during part of the year.