NABONASSAR

, first king of the Chaldeans; memorable for the Jewish era which bears his name, which began on Wednesday February 26th in the 3967th year of the Julian period, or 747 years before Christ; the years of this epoch being Egyptian ones, of 365 days each. This is a remarkable era in chronology, because Ptolomy assures us there were astronomical observations made by the Chaldeans from Nabonassar to his time; also Ptolomy, and the other astronomers, account their years from that epoch.

Nabonassar was the first king of the Chaldeans or Babylonians. These having revolted from the Medes, who had overthrown the Assyrian monarchy, did, under Nabonassar, found a dominion, which was much increased under Nebuchadnezzar. It is probable this Nabonassar is that Baladan in the 2d Book of Kings, xx, 12, father of Merodach, who sent ambassadors to Hezekiah. See 2 Chron. xxii.