Ninive

Ninive, known in English as Nineveh, is an ancient Mesopotamian city on the eastern bank of the Tigris, opposite the modern city of Mosul in northern Iraq. In Akkadian sources the city was called Ninua (Ninâ). Nineveh grew from a modest settlement into a major urban center and, during the Neo-Assyrian period, became the empire’s capital. Its position along the Tigris aided administration, trade, and military logistics across the Near East.

From the 9th to the 7th centuries BCE Nineveh rose to prominence under rulers such as Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal. The city housed grand palaces and religious precincts and became a focal point of Assyrian culture. The Royal Library of Ashurbanipal, established in the 7th century BCE, collected thousands of clay tablets documenting history, law, religion, and daily life. In 612 BCE, Nineveh was destroyed by a coalition of Babylonians and Medes, contributing to the collapse of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

Archaeological excavations began in the 19th century, revealing much of the city on the Kuyunjik plateau. Notable work by Austen Henry Layard uncovered palaces, temples, and the Ashurbanipal Library tablets, many now housed in the British Museum and other institutions. The site lies near Mosul and has suffered damage during recent conflicts, including the 2014–2017 war.

Today Ninive is primarily an archaeological site and a central source for understanding the Neo-Assyrian Empire, its administration, art, and literature. Its legacy informs biblical studies and Near Eastern scholarship, and ongoing excavations continue to refine knowledge of ancient Mesopotamian civilization.