Nimrud (Kalhu)
The Assyrian capital where Ashurnasirpal II built a temple to Ninurta, and whose ruins later took the name of the biblical Nimrod.
- Location
- On the Tigris, south of Mosul
- Modern country
- Iraq
- Founded
- 13th century BCE by Shalmaneser I
- Capital under
- Ashurnasirpal II (883–859 BCE)
- Excavated by
- Austen Henry Layard (1845–51); Max Mallowan (1949–58)
- Status
- Heavily damaged by Islamic State militants, 2015
What is Nimrud known for?
Kalhu, called Calah in Genesis and Nimrud today, lies on the Tigris south of Mosul. Founded in the 13th century BCE, it became the royal capital under Ashurnasirpal II, who built a great palace and a temple to Ninurta, the warrior god. His successors added temples and the arsenal known as Fort Shalmaneser.
Layard's digs in the 1840s sent winged human-headed bulls and lions, reliefs and the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III to the British Museum. Max Mallowan later found thousands of carved ivories. Iraqi archaeologists found the gold-rich tombs of Assyrian queens in 1988–89. In 2015 Islamic State militants deliberately destroyed much of the site.
The modern name Nimrud comes from local tradition linking the ruins to Nimrod, the 'mighty hunter' of Genesis, who is said there to have built Calah. There is no historical evidence for Nimrod at the site; the name reflects later legend.
Ashurnasirpal II built Ninurta's temple here, and local legend named the ruins after Nimrod.
Mentioned on these pages
- Rabbit holeApkallu (the seven sages)
- Rabbit holeNimrod
- Rabbit holeNinurta
- PersonAshurnasirpal II
- PersonTukulti-Ninurta I
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, 'Calah'Reference
- Genesis 10:11–12 (KJV), Bible GatewayPrimary text
- Wikipedia, 'Nimrud'Reference
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