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Stele depicting Nabonidus, Belshazzar's father. Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus, [9] an elderly courtier who would rise to become the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. There are various theories concerning Nabonidus's origins, and in turn what claim he had to the throne, since it is not made clear in any contemporary sources.
John Martin, Belshazzar's Feast, 1821, half-size sketch held by the Yale Center for British Art. Belshazzar's feast, or the story of the writing on the wall, chapter 5 in the Book of Daniel, tells how Neo-Babylonian royal Belshazzar holds a great feast and drinks from the vessels that had been looted in the destruction of the First Temple.
Belshazzar could not have claimed the throne for himself while his father was still alive, but by placing his father on the throne, an old man (meaning that his reign could be expected to be transitional, only lasting a few years), Belshazzar thought the throne secured for himself in the future. [39]
The leader of the coup to depose Labashi-Marduk was likely the courtier Belshazzar, who in Labashi-Marduk's place proclaimed Nabonidus, Belshazzar's father, as king. [21] The sources suggest that while he was part of the conspiracy, Nabonidus had not intended, nor expected, to become king himself and he was hesitant to accept the nomination. [22]
Given that Nebuchadnezzar is referred to as the father of Belshazzar in the Book of Daniel, it is probable that this portrayal of Nebuchadnezzar, especially the story of his madness, was actually based on Belshazzar's actual father, Nabonidus, the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (r. 556–539 BC).
Detail from the church of Lambrechtshagen, Germany, 1759: Daniel in the lions' den with Darius the Mede above. Darius the Mede is mentioned in the Book of Daniel as King of Babylon between Belshazzar and Cyrus the Great, but he is not known to secular history and there is no space in the historical timeline between those two verified rulers. [1]
Belshazzar's Feast is a major painting by Rembrandt now in the National Gallery, London. [1] The painting is Rembrandt's attempt to establish himself as a painter of large, baroque history paintings. [2] [3] The date of the painting is unknown, but most sources give a date between 1635 and 1638. [4] [1]
Belshazzar's Feast is a cantata by the English composer William Walton. It was first performed at the Leeds Festival on 8 October 1931, with the baritone Dennis Noble , the London Symphony Orchestra and the Leeds Festival Chorus , conducted by Malcolm Sargent .