Description

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Context:

Archaeologists recently discovered substantial portions of a monumental relief in the ancient metropolis of Nineveh. The relief depicted King Assurbanipal (668 to 627 BC), the final monarch of the Assyrian Empire, along with two significant deities and other figures.

Location and Geographical Significance

PC: Britannica

The mounds of Kuyunjiq and Nabī Yūnus, which are the remains of ancient Nineveh, are situated on a level portion of the plain at the junction of the Tigris and Khosr Rivers. The territory is bounded by a 12-kilometer (7.5 mi) fortification wall.
The entirety of this vast expanse is currently a vast expanse of ruins, with approximately one-third of it covered by the Nebi Yunus suburbs of the eastern Mosul city.

Historical Significance

In the late 8th century BCE, it was the capital of the Assyrian Empire under King Sennacherib and was one of the most significant sites in northern Mesopotamia.
It is located on the eastern shore of the Tigris River in the contemporary city of Mosul, Iraq.
It was the most populous and oldest metropolis of the ancient Assyrian Empire.
The region was settled as early as 6000 BCE and had become a significant religious center for the worship of the deity Ishtar by 3000 BCE.
It was directly under Assyrian rule during the reign of Shamashi Adad I (r. 1813-1791 BCE), but it was most thoroughly developed by Sennacherib (r. 705-681 BCE) during the Neo-Assyrian Empire (912-612 BCE).
However, Nineveh was the largest urban center in the world before its collapse, and it was considered a great cultural center. The city was adorned with gardens, statuary, parks, and a zoo.
In 612 BCE, the Assyrian Empire was overthrown by a coalition commanded by the Babylonians and Medes, which destroyed the city.