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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]] (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==

[[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 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.”

==Etymology of the Name==

==Etymology of the Name==

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====

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

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

According to G. Smith, the circuit of the inner wall is about 8 miles, and Captain Jones, who made a trigonometrical survey in 1854, estimated that allotting to each inhabitant 50 square yards, the city may have contained 174,000 inhabitants. The statement in Jonah_4:11, indicates that the city contained 120,000 persons who could not discern between their right hand and their left, be intended to give the number of the city's children only, then the population must have numbered about 600,000, and more than three cities of the same extent would have been needed to contain them.

According to G. Smith, the circuit of the inner wall is about 8 miles, and Captain Jones, who made a trigonometrical survey in 1854, estimated that allotting to each inhabitant 50 square yards, the city may have contained 174,000 inhabitants. The statement in [[Book of Jonah|Jonah]] 4:11, indicates that the city contained 120,000 persons who could not discern between their right hand and their left, be intended to give the number of the city's children only, then the population must have numbered about 600,000, and more than three cities of the same extent would have been needed to contain them.

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

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

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

====Calah, Resen 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====

====Khorsabad====

==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 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 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.

''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''