Nineveh

Nineveh_-_Mashki_Gate

Artist’s_impression_of_Assyrian_palaces_from_The_Monuments_of_Nineveh_by_Sir_Austen_Henry_Layard,_1853

View_of_the_village_of_Nunia_or_Ninive,_Niebuhr_1778

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Views_of_the_archaeological_site_of_Nineveh_in_modern-day_Mosul,_currently_occupied_by_squatters_06_(cropped)

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Bronze_head_of_an_Akkadian_ruler,_discovered_in_Nineveh_in_1931,_presumably_depicting_either_Sargon_or_Sargon's_grandson_Naram-Sin_(Rijksmuseum_van_Oudheden)

Polychrome_painted_jar,_geometric_designs_and_animals,_the_so-called_"Scarlet_Ware"._From_Iraq,_Tell_Abu_Qasim_(Arabic_تل_ابو_قاسم),_Hamrin_Basin,_Diyala_Valley._2800-2000_BCE._Iraq_Museum

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Painted_Jar_-_Ninevite_5

Nineveh was an ancient Assyrian city located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, and it was the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. It is situated in modern-day Mosul, in Iraq. Nineveh was one of the most important cities in antiquity and played a significant role in the history of the Ancient Near East.

History

Nineveh's history dates back to the 7th millennium BCE. It became a major city under the rule of the Assyrian Empire, particularly during the reign of Sennacherib, who made it the empire's capital in the early 7th century BCE. The city was known for its impressive architecture, including the famous city walls and the Palace of Sennacherib.

Assyrian Empire

The Assyrian Empire was a major Mesopotamian kingdom and empire of the ancient Near East and the Levant. Nineveh served as its capital during the empire's peak. The city was a center of commerce, religion, and governance.

Destruction

Nineveh fell to a coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians in 612 BCE. The city's destruction marked the end of the Assyrian Empire. The ruins of Nineveh were later excavated in the 19th century, revealing much about Assyrian culture and history.

Archaeology

The site of Nineveh has been extensively excavated, revealing a wealth of artifacts and information about the Assyrian Empire. Notable discoveries include the Library of Ashurbanipal, which contained thousands of clay tablets with cuneiform script.

Cultural Significance

Nineveh is mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Bible, where it is described as a "great city." It is also referenced in the Epic of Gilgamesh and other Mesopotamian literature.

Related Pages

• Assyrian Empire
• Sennacherib
• Library of Ashurbanipal
• Mosul
• Tigris River
• Ancient Near East
• Babylonians
• Medes
• Scythians