Nimrud

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Nimrud
Capital of Assyria 884 - c. 710 B.C. Occupied c. 2500 - 612 B.C.

Nimrud. Assyrian Kalhu and Calah of Genesis, overlooks the east bank of the Tigris 19 miles (31 km) south of Mosul. Surface finds indicate that the site was occupied from at least the early 3rd millennium BC, but it first appears in history as a town founded by Shalmaneser I of Assyria about 1250 BC. It was refounded and greatly enlarged by Assurnasirpal II (884 59 BC), whose successors resided there until the late 8th century, when the capital was transferred first to KHORSABAD and then to NINEVEH. It was a provincial capital in the 7th century, and was sacked twice during the Median invasions that overthrew Assyria in 614 12. A few survivors lingered on, but it was deserted when Xenophon marched by in 401 BC. There was a Hellenistic village on the ruined citadel, but that too was abandoned about 150 BC.



The road from Mosul passes through a low ridge marking the outer city wall, which encloses an area about one and a quarter miles (2 km) square, and terminates at the north west corner of the citadel beneath the eroded ziggurat. The temple of Ninurta, patron god of Kalhu, adjoined the ziggurat on the south, and beyond it lay the outer, public courtyard of the North west Palace, built by Assurnasirpal II. The restored south façade is decorated with reliefs depicting tribute bearers, and two doorways flanked by winged lions and bulls lead into the throne room. Many of the reliefs from this and other chambers were removed to the British Museum in the 19th century, but the throne dais that stood at the east end is now in Mosul Museum, with a stela found outside the east door which commemorates the com-pletion of the palace in 879 BC. It records a feast given to the people of Kalhu, 63,000 in number including 47,000 workers transported from conquered territories. South of the throne room other reception rooms lined with sculptures have been restored by the Iraqi Antiquities Department. Most of the citadel was occupied by palaces and temples, of which the largest, dedicated to Nabu, god of writing, is still partly exposed near the south east corner. Here two stone paved chambers with raised platforms were the shrines of Nabu and his consort, and surround¬ing rooms housed the domestic and business activities of the temple. North of the Nabu Temple an original gate leads through the outer city to the imperial arsenal, founded by Shalmaneser III (859-824 BC), which housed barracks, workshops and stores as well as a royal palace. On the south can be seen a stone gate, built about 675 BC, and within the arsenal were found the sculptured throne dais of Shalmaneser, and many carved ivory plaques, originally furniture or harness ornaments, which are now in the Iraq Museum.