Nineveh
From Halbeeg, the open encyclopedia · Af-Soomaali
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Nineveh (Arabic: نينوى, Naynawa) was an ancient city located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, opposite the modern city of Mosul in northern Iraq. It was among the largest cities of the ancient world and served as the final capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
The ruined site now appears as two earthen mounds (tells): Kuyunjik and Nabi Yunus. These mounds are surrounded by the remains of a long defensive wall that once encircled the city and contained numerous gates. The name Nineveh also appears in the religious texts of Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Early history
Settlement of the site began in ancient times, long before it became a political center. In earlier periods Nineveh was known for its temple to the goddess Ishtar. For a long time it was one of the important cities of the Assyrian region, but the official capitals were Ashur, Kalhu (Nimrud), and Dur-Sharrukin.
Period of capital status
The Assyrian king Sennacherib transferred the capital to Nineveh in the early seventh century BCE. He constructed a large palace, expanded the city gates, and built a water system consisting of canals and aqueducts to supply water to the city and its fields. Later kings, including Ashurbanipal, added further structures. Ashurbanipal is associated with a library filled with clay tablets bearing cuneiform inscriptions.
Destruction and aftermath
In the late seventh century BCE, a coalition of Babylonians and Medes captured the city, ending Assyrian power. After that time the city never regained its former importance, although small settlements and villages existed at the site for many centuries. The modern city of Mosul later developed on the western bank of the river.
Excavation and condition of the site
Archaeological excavation at Kuyunjik began in the nineteenth century, yielding sculptured reliefs from the royal palace and inscribed tablets now held in museums worldwide. The site has suffered damage on several occasions, including deliberate destruction during the period when the Islamic State group controlled the region; subsequently restoration and documentation efforts have begun.