Six cities claim Daniel's tomb, yet most scholars doubt he existed
Daniel of the lions' den is honoured by Jews, Christians and Muslims, and his supposed tomb is claimed in Iraq, Iran and Uzbekistan. Most scholars, though, see him as a literary hero modelled on an older legendary sage, and read his visions as coded commentary on a Greek king of the 2nd century BCE.
In the Book of Daniel he is a noble youth from Jerusalem carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II, renamed Belteshazzar and trained at court with three companions better known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The friends refuse the king's food and wine to avoid defilement, yet outshine every magician in the kingdom. Daniel alone can explain the king's dream of a statue of four metals on feet of iron mixed with clay, read as four kingdoms that God will sweep away. He deciphers the writing on the wall at Belshazzar's feast and survives a night among lions after jealous officials accuse him of praying to God rather than the king.
Most scholars date the book much later than its setting. The court tales in chapters 1 to 6 probably come from the 3rd or early 2nd century BCE, and the visions in chapters 8 to 12 were added between 167 and 164 BCE. Much of that material is understood as a veiled reference to Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The name, meaning God is my judge, likely came from Ezekiel, who mentions a legendary Daniel alongside Noah and Job as a model of righteousness. A far older Daniel appears in a Canaanite tale from Ugarit, on a tablet dated around 1360 BCE, as a wise follower of the god El.
Traditions diverge on his status. Judaism does not count him among the prophets, since prophecy is held to have ended with Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, and his book sits among the Writings. Christians regard him as a prophet, and Muslim sources describe him as one even though the Quran does not mention him. Eight copies of the book turned up among the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Greek version adds extra tales, including Susanna, in which Daniel's sharp cross-examination exposes two corrupt elders.
Where he lies is equally disputed. Josephus placed his body in a tower at Ecbatana; later Jewish tradition pointed to Susa. Babylon, Kirkuk, Muqdadiyah, Susa, Malamir and Samarkand all claim the tomb today, and the shrine at Susa, called Shush-e Daniyal, still draws pilgrims.
Source: Daniel (biblical figure)
