The 2,700-year-old rock carvings from when Nineveh was the most dazzling city in the world

The Conversation ^ | 22 December 2022 | Natalie Sauer

[Cronos]

Archaeologists in northern Iraq, working on the Mashki and Adad gate sites in Mosul that were destroyed by Islamic State in 2016, recently uncovered 2,700-year-old Assyrian reliefs. Featuring war scenes and trees, these rock carvings add to the bounty of detailed stone panels excavated from the 1840s onwards, many of which are currently held in the British Museum. They stem from the ancient city of Nineveh which, for a time, was likely the most dazzling in the world.

There is evidence of occupation at the site already by 3,000 BC, an era known as the late Uruk period. But it was under King Sennacherib (705-681 BC), son of Sargon and grandfather of Ashurbanipal, that Nineveh became the capital of Assyria, the greatest power of its day.

In moving the capital, Sennacherib was doing nothing new. Traditionally, the Assyrian capital was Ashur (from which we derive the word “Assyria”), but in the 800s BC the political capital had been moved to Kalhu (Nimrud). Sennacherib’s father, Sargon, had subsequently built himself a completely new capital city, Dūr Šarrukīn.

Such initiatives displayed the authority of the monarch, making a clear claim to a new order of things. They also served to move the centre of power away from the elite families whose influence had built up over time.

But moves like this could backfire. Sargon died on the battlefield and his corpse was never recovered. This national calamity was presumably a major factor that led his successor, Sennacherib, to abandon his father’s newly founded city and mark out his grandeur elsewhere.

So it was that Nineveh became synonymous with Assyrian power. When it subsequently fell to a coalition of Babylonians and Medes in 612 BC, the Israelite prophets, whose societies had suffered greatly under Assyrian aggression, could not contain their glee.

[Cronos]

[Cronos]

[SteveH]

p

[Guenevere]

Thank you!…..Nineveh…..( from the Bible) was extremely wicked and debased.
That’s why Jonah didn’t want to obey the Lord and go there ……he knew God could have compassion and turn away his anger if they repented and stopped their wickedness

The people of Nineveh took heed….repented…..and mercy was given to them
God did not destroy them, at that time.

Would that our nation repented of what we’ve allowed to become in what was once a Judeo/Christian AMERICA.
I constantly pray for mercy!

[avenir]

“I constantly pray for mercy!”

Me too, and thank Him for how much he has already shown us.

[esopman]

Dear G:
Thank you for your post.
The recent finds add to the history a bit, but the real wickedness of Nineveh is already known. There are wall carvings of prisoners being flayed, skinned alive and having their tongues cut out. Rule by terror. You are correct about Jonah
As for America? We are coming under judgment. I have prayed and asked for many years, “Is America Babylon?” The Spirit said yes, that is the Zeitgeist of the republic, but the reality is Nineveh. The door to repentance and the grace of Christ is still open. That is changing. We are close to to Jeremiah 11:14.
We must stay very close to Jesus. This CHRISTmas season, may His blessings rest upon you and yours!
Shalom

[Paperpusher]

Jonah ping.

[Guenevere]

Thank you
Peace and Blessings
The ‘time’ seems very close

[Hiddigeigei]

"Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!"

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Cronos.

Also sort of ne of *those* topics.

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• Archaeologists unearth 2,700-year-old rock carvings in Iraq [10/27/2022]