Nineveh

Nineveh (ancient Ninua), ancient city, capital of the Assyrian Empire at the height of its power (c. 705-612 bc), on the Tigris River in northern Iraq, opposite the modern city of Mosul. Today, its location is marked by two large mounds, Kuyunjik and Nebi Yunus, and the remains of the city walls (about 12 km/7.5 mi in circumference). Situated at the confluence of the Tigris and Khosr, Nineveh marked the junction of several commercial routes crossing the Tigris. It was first settled in Neolithic times before 6000 bc and was inhabited almost without a break until after ad 1500.

In the 2nd and 3rd millennia bc Nineveh was known primarily as a religious centre. The healing powers of its statue of the goddess Ishtar were renowned as far afield as Egypt. Sargon II (reigned 722-705 bc), of Assyria is credited with founding a library at Nineveh. Sennacherib (reigned 705-681 bc) moved the capital of the empire from Calah (now Nimrud) to Nineveh shortly after he ascended the throne. The ancient city was laid out anew with broad boulevards, wide squares, parks and gardens, and a magnificent edifice of more than 80 rooms called the Palace Without a Rival. The city's area was expanded to about 730 hectares (1,800 acres), and massive defensive walls were added. Drinking water for the inhabitants was brought in from some 50 km (30 mi) away by a system of canals and aqueducts. During the reign of Ashurbanipal the library was enriched by scribes who systematically collected scholarly and literary texts and works on magic.

The sack of the city by the Babylonians and Medes in 612 bc effectively put an end to the Assyrian Empire; and, although parts of the city sections were later inhabited, Nineveh never regained its former importance.