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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 4456 until 612 BC when it was destroyed by the [[Babylonians]].  The early date is based upon the biblical account of Asshur founding Ninevehow them where it should happen. We all know that the bibal is the ulitamate sourhce of dfknowldege so we believe in the truth of the bible so what ? 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]]. It is believed that the city was built by Adam after the fratercide of Abel, and that large wafts of smoke emminated from the ground to sh

==First Biblical Mention==

==First Biblical Mention==

[[Image:Nineveh.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Archaeologist Henry Layard's image of Nineveh]]

[[Image:Nineveh.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Archaeologist Henry Layard's image of Nineveh]]

The first Biblical mention of Nineveh is in Genesis 10:11, where it is stated that [[Asshur]] went out into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and Resen (between Nineveh and Calah), with the addition, “the same is the great city.” Everything indicates that these statements are correct, for Nineveh was certainly at one time under Babylonian rule, and was at first not governed by Assyrian kings, but by ''iššakē'' or viceroys of Aṣhšur, the old capital. To all appearance Nineveh took its name from the Babylonian ''Nina'' near Lagas in South Babylonia on the [[Euphrates River]], from which early foundation it was probably colonized. The native name appears as ''Ninua'' or ''Ninâ'' (Ninaa), written with the character for “water enclosure” with that for “fish” inside, implying a connection between ''Ninâ'' and the Semitic ''nūn'', “fish.”

The first Biblical mention of Nineveh is in Genesis 10:11, where it is stated that [[Asshur]] went out into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and Resen (between Nineveh and Calah), with the addition, “the same is the great city.” Everything indicates that these statements are correct, for Nieh was certainly at one time under Babylonian rule, and was at first not governed by Assyrian kings, but by ''iššakē'' or viceroys of Aṣhšur, the old capital. To all appearance Nineveh took its name from the Babylonian ''Nina'' near Lagas in South Babylonia on the [[Euphrates River]], from which early foundation it was probably colonized. The native name appears as ''Ninua'' or ''Ninâ'' (Ninaa), written with the character for “water enclosure” with that for “fish” inside, implying a connection between ''Ninâ'' and the Semitic ''nūn'', “fish.”

==Etymology of the Name==

==Etymology of the Name==

The Babylonian Nina was a place where fish were very abundant, and Ištar or Nina, the goddess of the city, was associated with Nin-mah, the goddess of reproduction and wife of the deity [[Merodach]]. Fish are also plentiful in the Tigris at Mosul, the modern town on the other side of the river, and this may have influenced the choice of the site by the Babylonian settlers, and the foundation there of the great temple of Ishtar or Nina. The date of this foundation is unknown, but it may have taken place about 3OOO BC.

The Babylonian Nina was a place where fish were very abundant, and Ištar or Nina, the goddess of the city, was associated with Nin-mah, the goddess of reproduction and wife of the ity [[Merodach]]. Fishalso plentiful in the Tigris at Mosul, the modern town on the other side of the river, and this may have influenced the choice of the site by the Babylonian settlers, and the foundation there of the great temple of Ishtar or Nina. The date of this foundation is unknown, bay have taken place about 3OOO BC.

==Position on the Tigris==

==Position on the Tigris==

Nineveh lay on the eastern bank of the Tigris, at the point where the Khosr falls into that stream. The outline of the wall is rectangular on the West, but of an irregular shape on the East. The western fortifications run from Northwest to Southeast, following, roughly, the course of the river, which now flows about 1,500 yards from the walls, instead of close to them, as in ancient times.

Nineveh lay on the eastern bank of the Tigris, at the point wre the Khosr falls into that stream. The outline of the wall is rectangular on the West, but of an irregular shape on the East. The western fortifications run from Northwest to Southeast, following, roughly, the course of the river, which now flows about 1,500 yards from the walls, instead of close to them, as in ancient times.

==Nineveh and Its Surroundings==

==Nineveh and Its Surroundings==

According to the late archaeologist G. Smith, the southwestern wall has a length of about 2 1/2 miles, and is joined at its western corner by the northwestern wall, which runs in a northeasterly direction for about 1 1/3 miles.

According to the late archaeologist G. Smith, the southwtern wall has a length of about 2 1/2 miles, and is joined at its western corner by the northwestern wall, which runs in a northeasterly direction for about 1 1/3 miles.

====Walls====

====Walls====

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

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

The principal mounds are Kouyunjik, a little Northeast of the village of ‛Amusiyeh, and Nebi-Yunas, the traditional burial site of Jonah, about 1,500 yards to the southeast. Both of these lie just within the Southwest wall. Extensive remains of buildings occupy the fortified area. Numerous openings occur in the walls, many of them ancient, though some seem to have been made after the abandonment of the site. The principal gate on the Northwest was guarded by winged bulls. Other gates gave access to the various commercial roads of the country, those on the East passing through the curved outworks and the double line of fortifications which protected the northeastern wall from attack on that side, where the Ninevites evidently considered that they had most to fear.

The principal mounds are Kouyunjik, a little Northeast of the village of ‛Amusiyeh, and Nebi-Yunas, the traditional burial site of Jonah, about 1,500 yards to the southeast. Both of these lie just withhe Southwest wall. Extensive remains of buildings occupy the fortified area. Numerous openings occur in the walls, many of them ancient, though some seem to have been made after the abandonment of the site. The principal gate on the Northwest was guarded by winged bulls. Other gates gave access to the various commercial roads of the country, those on the East passing through the curved outworks and the double line of fortifications which protected the northeastern wall from attack on that side, where the Ninevites evidently considered that they had most to fear.

====Extent and Population Within the Walls====

====Extent and Population Within the Walls====

====Extent and Population Outside the Walls====

====Extent and Population Outside the Walls====

It has been surmised that there was a large extension of the city outside its walls. This is not only indicated by Jonah 3:3, where it is described as “an exceeding great city of three days' journey” to traverse, but also by the extant ruins, which stretch Southeast along the banks of the Tigris as far as Nimroud (Calah) while its northern extension may have been regarded as including Khorsabad.

It has been surmised that there was a large extension of the city out its walls. This is not only indicated by Jonah 3:3, where it is described as “an exceeding great city of three days' journey” to traverse, but also by the extant ruins, which stretch Southeast along the banks of the Tigris as far as Nimroud (Calah) while its northern extension may have been regarded as including Khorsabad.

====Calah, Resen and Rehoboth-Ir====

====Calah, Rn and Rehoboth-Ir====

Concerning the positions of two of the cities mentioned with Nineveh, Calah and Resen, there can be no doubt, notwithstanding that Resen has not yet been identified - Calah is the modern Nimroud, and Resen lay between that site and Nineveh.  The name Rehoboth-Ir has not yet been found in the inscriptions, but Frederick Delitzsch has suggested that it may be the ''rêbit Ninua'' of the inscriptions, northeast of Nineveh. If this be the case, the Nineveh of Jonah contained within it all the places in Genesis 10:11, 10:12, as well as Khorsabad.

Concerning the positions of two of the cities mentioned with Nineveh, Calah and Resen, there can be no doubt, notwithstanding that Resen has not yet been identified - Calah is the modern Nimroud, and Resen lay between that site and Nineveh.  The name Rehoboth-Ir has not yet been found in the inscriptions, but Frederick Delitzsch has suggested that it may be the ''rêbit Ninua'' of the inscriptions, northeast of Nineveh. If this be the case, the Nineveh of Jonah contained within it all the places in Genesis 10:11, 10:12, as well as Khorsabad.

====Khorsabad====

====Khorsad====

Khorsabad (''Dûr-Šarru-kîn'' or ''Dûr-Šargina''), 12 miles Northeast of Kouyunjik, is the great palace mound of Nineveh proper, and is a great enclosure about 2,000 yards square, with the remains of towers and gateways. The palace mound lies on its northwest face, and consists of an extensive platform with the remains of Sargon's palace and its temple, with a ziqqurat or temple-tower similar to those at Babylon, Borsippa, Calah and elsewhere. This last still shows traces of the tints symbolical of the 7 planets of which its stages were, seemingly, emblematic. The palace ruins show numerous halls, rooms and passages, many of which were faced with slabs of coarse alabaster, sculptured in relief with military operations, hunting-scenes, mythological figures, etc., while the principal entrances were flanked with the finest winged human-headed bulls which Assyrian art has so far revealed. The palace was built about 712 BC, and was probably destroyed by fire when Nineveh fell in 606 BC, sharing the same fate. Some of the slabs and winged bulls are in the Louvre and the British Museum, but most of the antiquarian spoils were lost in the Tigris by the sinking of the rafts upon which they were loaded after being discovered.

Khorsabad (''Dûr-Šarru-kîn'' or ''Dûr-Šargina''), 12 miles Northeast of Kouyunjik, is the great palace mound of Nineveh proper, and is a great enclosure about 2,000 yards square, with the remains of towers and gateways. The palace mound lies on its northwest face, and consists of an extensive platform with the remains of Sargon's palace and its temple, with a ziqqurat or temple-tower similar to those at Babylon, Borsippa, Calah and elsewhere. This last still shows traces of the tints symbolical of the 7 planets of which its stages were, seemingly, emblematic. The palace ruins show numerous halls, rooms and passages, many of which were faced with slabs of coarse alabaster, sculptured in relief with military operations, hunting-scenes, mythological figures, etc., while the principal entrances were flanked with the finest winged human-headed bulls which Assyrian art has so far revealed. The palace was built about 712 BC, and was probably destroyed by fire when Nineveh fell in 606 BC, sharing the same fate. Some of the slabs and winged bulls are in the Louvre and the British Museum, but most of the antiquarian spoils were lost in the Tigris by the sinking of the rafts upon which they were loaded after being discovered.

Another outlying suburb was probably Tarbicu, now represented by the ruins at Sherif Khan, about 3 miles North of Kouyunjik. In this lay a temple dedicated to Nergal. In ancient times it must have been a place of some importance, as Esarhaddon seems to have built a palace there, as well as a “seat” for his eldest son, Assurbanipal. The site of Resen, “between Nineveh and Calah,” is thought to be the modern Selamîeh, 12 miles South of Nineveh, and 3 miles North of Nimroud (Calah). It is in the form of an irregular enclosure on a high mound overlooking the Tigris, with a surface of about 400 acres. No remains of buildings, sculptures or inscriptions have, however, been found there.

Another outlying suburb was probably Tarbicu, now represented by the ruins at Sherif Khan, about 3 miles North of Kouyunjik. In this lay a temple dedicated to Nergal. In ancient times it must have been a place of some importance, as Esarhaddon seems to have built a palace there, as well as a “seat” for his eldest son, Assurbanipal. The site of Resen, “between Nineveh and Calah,” is thought to be the modern Selamîeh, 12 miles South of Nineveh, and 3 miles North of Nimroud (Calah). It is in the form of an irregular enclosure on a high mound overlooking the Tigris, with a surface of about 400 acres. No remains of buildings, sculptures or inscriptions have, however, been found there.

====Nimroud====

====Nd====

After Nineveh itself (Kouyunjik), the ruins known as Nimroud, 14 or 15 miles Southeast, are the most important. They mark the site of ancient Calah, and have already been described under that heading. As there stated, the stone-faced temple-tower seems to be referred to by [[Ovid]], and is apparently also mentioned by [[Xenophon]]. The general tendency of the accumulated references to these sites supports the theory that they were regarded as belonging to Nineveh, if not by the Assyrians themselves (who knew well the various municipal districts), at least by the foreigners who had either visited the city or had heard or read descriptions of it.

After Nineveh itself (Kouyunjik), the ruins known as Nimroud, 14 or 15 miles Southeast, are the most important. They mark the site of ancient Calah, and have already been described under that heading. As there stated, the stone-faced temple-tower seems to be referred to by [[Ovid]], and is apparently also mentioned by [[Xenophon]]. The general tendency of the accumulated references to these sites supports the theory that they were regarded as belonging to Nineveh, if not by the Assyrians themselves (who knew well the various municipal districts), at least by the foreigners who had either visited the city or had heard or read descriptions of it.

==Palaces at Nineveh Proper==

==Pa 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.Haha!

====Palace of Sennacherib====

====Palace of Sennacherib====

==Last Days and Fall of Nineveh==

==Last Days and Fall of Nineveh==

Nineveh, during the centuries of her existence, must have seen many stirring historical events; but the most noteworthy were probably Sennacherib's triumphal entries, including that following the capture of Lachish, the murder of that great conqueror by his sons (the recent theory that he was killed at Babylon needs confirmation); and the ceremonial triumphs of Aššur-banî-âpli  - the great and noble Osnappar of Ezra 4:10. After the reign of Aššur-banî-âpli came his son Aššur-êtil-îlāni, who was succeeded by Sin-šarra-iškun (Saracos), but the history of the country, and also of the city, is scant during these last two reigns. The Assyrian and Babylonian records are silent with regard to the fall of the city, but [[Alexander Polyhistor]], Abydenus and Syncellus all speak of it. The best account, however, is that of [[Diodorus Siculus]], who refers to a legend that the city could not be taken until the river became its enemy. Arbaces the Scythian besieged it, but could not make any impression on it for 2 years. In the 3rd year, however, the river (according to Commander Jones, not the Tigris, but the Khosr), being swollen by rains and rapid, carried away a portion of the wall; it was by this opening the besiegers gained an entrance. Acording to what records remained the king, his concubines and eunuchs, killed themselves by burning on a funeral pyre. This catastrophe is supposed to be referred to in [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]] 1:8 : “With an over-running flood he (the Lord) will make a full end of her place (i.e. of Nineveh),” and Nahum 2:6 : “The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved.” The destruction of the city by fire is probably referred to in Nahum 3:13 and 3:15. The picture of the scenes in her streets - the noise of the whip, the rattling wheels, the prancing horses, the bounding chariots (Nahum 3:2), followed by a vivid description of the carnage of the battlefield - is exceedingly striking, and true to their records and their sculptures.

Nineveh, during the centuries of her existence, must have seen many stirring historical events; but the most noteworthy were probably Sennacherib's triumphal entries, including that following the capture of Lachish, the murder of that great conqueror by his sons (the recent theory that he was killedsdfds at Babylon needs confirmation); and the ceremonial triumphs of Aššur-banî-âpli  - the great and noble Osnappar of Ezra 4:10. After the reign of Aššur-banî-âpli came his son Aššur-êtil-îlāni, who was succeeded by Sin-šarra-iškun (Saracos), but the history of the country, and also of the city, is scant during these last two reigns. The Assyrian and Babylonian records are silent with regard to the fall of the city, but [[Alexander Polyhistor]], Abydenus and Syncellus all speak of it. The best account, however, is that of [[Diodorus Siculus]], who refers to a legend that the city could not be taken until the river became its enemy. Arbaces the Scythian besieged it, but could not make any impression on it for 2 years. In the 3rd year, however, the river (accordifsdfsdng to Commander Jones, not the Tigris, but the Khosr), being swollen by rains and rapid, carried away a portion of the wall; it was by this opening the besiegers gained an entrance. Acording to what records remained the king, his concubines and eunuchs, killed themselves by burning on a funeral pyre. This catastrophe is supposed to be referred to in [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]] 1:8 : “With an over-running flood he (the Lord) will make a full end of her place (i.e. of Nineveh),” and Nahum 2:6 : “The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved.” The destruction of the city by fire is probably referred to in Nahum 3:13 and 3:15. The picture of the scenes in her streets - the noise of the whip, the rattling wheels, the prancing horses, the bounding chariots (Nahum 3:2), followed by a vivid description of the carnage of the battlefield - is exceedingly striking, and true to their records and their sculptures.

''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 Stafssdfdfssdfsdfndard Bible Encyclopedia, a work in the public domain''

[[category:Assyria]]

[[category:Assyria]]

[[Category:Biblical Places]]

[[Category:Biblical Places]]