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[[Image:Iraq sm 2007.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Location of the ruins of Nineveh, Iraq]]

[[Image:Iraq sm 2007.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Location of the ruins of Nineveh, Iraq]]

'''Nineveh''' (nin´ē-ve נינוה, nīnewēh) was the last capital of [[Assyria|the Assyrian empire]] from 5000 until 612 BC when it was destroyed by the [[Babylonians]].  The early date is based upon the biblical account of Asshur founding Nineveh in the biblical book of [[Genesis|Genesis]] (Genesis 10:11), which would translate to roughtly 5000 B.C. based upon recorded geneologies.  The ruins of the city are on the banks of the [[Tigris River]] near modern [[Mosul]] in [[Iraq]].  

'''Nineveh''' (nin´ē-ve נינוה, nīnewēh) was the last capital of [[Assyria|the Assyrian empire]] from 5000 until 612 BC when it was destroyed by the [[Babylonians]].  The early date is based upon the biblical account of Asshur founding Nineveh in the biblical book of [[Genesis]] (Genesis 10:11), which would translate to roughtly 5000 B.C. based upon recorded geneologies.  The ruins of the city are on the banks of the [[Tigris River]] near modern [[Mosul]] in [[Iraq]].  

==First Biblical Mention==

==First Biblical Mention==

The northeastern wall, starting here, runs at first in a southeasterly direction, but turns southward, gradually approaching the southwestern wall, to which, at the end of about 3 1/4 miles, it is joined by a short wall, facing nearly South, rather more than half a mile long.

The northeastern wall, starting here, runs at first in a southeasterly direction, but turns southward, gradually approaching the southwestern wall, to which, at the end of about 3 1/4 miles, it is joined by a short wall, facing nearly South, rather more than half a mile long.

In all probability the best description of the city is that given by Sennacherib on the cylinder recording his expedition to [[Tarsus]] in Cilicia. From ancient times, he says, the circuit of the city had measured 9,300 cubits, and he makes the rather surprising statement that his predecessors had not built either the inner or the outer wall, which, if true, shows how confident they were of their security from attack. He claims to have enlarged the city by 12, 515 (cubits). The great defensive wall which he built was called by the Sumerian name of ''Bad-imgallabi-lu-šušu'', which he translates as “the wall whose glory overthrows the enemy.” He made the brickwork 40 cubits thick, which would probably not greatly exceed the estimate of G. Smith, who reckoned it to have measured about 50 ft. The height of the wall he raised to 180 tipki, which, admitting the estimate of Diodorus, should amount to about 100 ft.

In all probability the best description of the city is that given by Sennacherib on the cylinder recording his expedition to [[Tarsus]] in Cilicia. From ancient times, he says, the circuit of the city had measured 9,300 cubits, and he makes the rather surprising statement that his predecessors had not built either the inner or the outer wall, which, if true, shows how confident they were of their security from attack. He claims to have enlarged the city by 12, 515 (cubits). The great defensive wall which he built was called by the Sumerian name of ''Bad-imgallabi-lu-šušu'', which he translates as “the wall whose glory overthrows the enemy.” He made the brickwork 40 cubits thick, which would probably not greatly exceed the estimate of G. Smith, who reckoned it to have measured about 50 ft. The height of the wall he raised to 180 tipki, which, admitting the estimate of Diodorus, should amount to about 100 ft.

====Principal Mounds and Gateways====

====Principal Mounds and Gateways====

==Palaces at Nineveh Proper==

==Palaces at Nineveh Proper==

The palaces at Nineveh were built upon extensive artificial platforms between 30 and 50 ft. high, either of sundried brick, as at Nimroud, or of earth and rubbish, as at Kouyunjik. It is thought that they were faced with masonry, and that access was gained to them by means of flights of deep steps, or sloping pathways. Naturally it is the plan of the basement floor alone that can at present be traced, any upper stories that may have existed having long since disappeared. The halls and rooms discovered were faced with slabs of alabaster or other stone, often sculptured with bas-reliefs depicting warlike expeditions, the chase, religious ceremonies and divine figures. The depth of the accumulations over these varies from a few inches to about 30 ft., and if the amount in some cases would seem to be excessive, it is thought that this may have been due either to the existence of upper chambers, or to the extra height of the room. The chambers, which are grouped around courtyards, are long and narrow, with small square rooms at the ends. The partition walls vary from 6 to 15 ft. in thickness, and are of sun-dried brick, against which the stone paneling was fixed. As in the case of the Babylonian temples and palaces, the rooms and halls open into each other, so that, to gain access to those farthest from the courtyard entrance, one or more halls or chambers had to be traversed. No traces of windows have been discovered, and little can therefore be said as to the method of lighting, but the windows were either high up, or light was admitted through openings in the roof.

The palaces at Nineveh were built upon extensive artificial platforms between 30 and 50 ft. high, either of sundried brick, as at Nimroud, or of earth and rubbish, as at Kouyunjik. It is thought that they were faced with masonry, and that access was gained to them by means of flights of deep steps, or sloping pathways. Naturally it is the plan of the basement floor alone that can at present be traced, any upper stories that may have existed having long since disappeared. The halls and rooms discovered were faced with slabs of alabaster or other stone, often sculptured with bas-reliefs depicting warlike expeditions, the chase, religious ceremonies and divine figures. The depth of the accumulations over these varies from a few inches to about 30 ft., and if the amount in some cases would seem to be excessive, it is thought that this may have been due either to the existence of upper chambers, or to the extra height of the room. The chambers, which are grouped around courtyards, are long and narrow, with small square rooms at the ends. The partition walls vary from 6 to 15 ft. in thickness, and are of sun-dried brick, against which the stone paneling was fixed. As in the case of the Babylonian temples and palaces, the rooms and halls open into each other, so that, to gain access to those farthest from the courtyard entrance, one or more halls or chambers had to be traversed. No traces of windows have been discovered, and little can therefore be said as to the method of lighting, but the windows were either high up, or light was admitted through openings in the roof.

====Palace of Sennacherib====

====Palace of Sennacherib====

''Text used in part from the 1913 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, a work in the public domain''

''Text used in part from the 1913 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, a work in the public domain''

[[category:Assyria]]

[[Category:Assyria]]

[[Category:Biblical Places]]

[[Category:Biblical Places]]