The complex relationship between ancient religions and the rise of Christianity is one of historical tension, transformation, and often, deliberate rewriting of theological narratives. Among the most significant casualties of this theological war were the gods and deities of the ancient Babylonian pantheon, which were systematically demonized by early Christian writers, most notably Pope Jerome, and the Church during the first centuries of Christianity’s expansion. In this article, we explore the historical processes behind this demonization and argue that the demonization of Babylonian gods—along with other pagan deities—was not only a theological but also a political manoeuvre aimed at consolidating power and suppressing alternative belief systems in the early Christian era.
