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[[File: Ninveh_Map.jpg|300px250px|thumbnail|left|Map of Nineveh’s Layout]]

Among the major events that took place in the ancient Near East, none were more earth-shattering than the fall of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh. The demise of Nineveh was so important because it marked the end of the Assyrian Empire, which at its height stretched from Egypt in the west to Persia in the east and included most of Anatolia, the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula. The Assyrians ruled their empire with an iron fist and in doing so were able to fleece their subject peoples of their precious minerals and resources, which they then used to build Nineveh and other cities in the Assyrian heartland. Eventually, the enemies of the Assyrians grew tired of the malevolent regime and so came together temporarily to cast off the Assyrian yoke. The great city of Nineveh was destroyed in the process.

The destruction of Nineveh left such a strong impression on the psyche of ancient Assyrians ruled their empire with an iron fist. In doing so, we're able to fleece their subject peoples that it was written about for several subsequent centuries in the Babylonian cuneiform annals, the writings of Greek their precious minerals and Roman historiansresources, which they then used to build Nineveh and even other cities in the Old Testament of the BibleAssyrian heartland. Nineveh’s fall was so important because for a time it was Eventually, the greatest city in the ancient world as it served as a source of inspiration and awe for Assyrians and non-Assyrians alike throughout the region. The workmanship ' enemies grew tired of the city’s temples malevolent regime and palaces was superb and Nineveh boasted of one of the world’s first botanic gardens, which many scholars believe was the inspiration for the fabled “Hanging Gardens of Babylon.” <ref> Dally, Stephanie. “Nineveh, Babylon and the Hanging Gardens: Cuneiform and Classical Sources Reconsidered.” <i>Iraq</i> 56 (1994)</ref> But the details concerning how the city fell are as important so came together temporarily to cast off the city’s history as its great monumentsAssyrian yoke. As The great as city of Nineveh once was, it fell victim to a combination of internal problems within the Assyrian royal house and the ever present and large number of enemies the Assyrians managed to create during their brutal reign of terror over the Near East. In the end, the Assyrians’ enemies saw Nineveh as a symbol of their overlords so they wiped it from the face of destroyed in the earthprocess.

===Early =What was the impact of the Fall of Nineveh?====[[File: Gardens_of_Nineveh.png|300px|thumbnail|right|Assyrian Relief Depicting the Gardens The destruction of Nineveh]]Nineveh left such a strong impression on ancient peoples' psyche that it was located written about for several subsequent centuries in the middle Babylonian cuneiform annals, the writings of ancient AssyriaGreek and Roman historians, which was centered on the Tigris River and even in northern Mesopotamia in what would today by the northern part Old Testament of Iraqthe Bible. As part of the Fertile CrescentNineveh’s fall was so important because, much of Assyria had good soil that allowed for a surplus in crops and exceptional population growth. Nineveh, like many ancient citiestime, it was built on a mound for defense overlooking the Kosr River, which is greatest city in the ancient world as it served as a tributary source of inspiration and awe for Assyrians and non-Assyrians alike throughout the Tigris Riverregion. Although much The quality of Assyria was fertile crop land in ancient timesthe city’s temples and palaces were superb, and Nineveh boasted of one of the area around Nineveh world’s first botanic gardens, which many scholars believe was exceptionally productive, making it an excellent location the inspiration for a citythe fabled “Hanging Gardens of Babylon. ” <ref> MieroopDally, Marc van deStephanie. “Nineveh, Babylon and the Hanging Gardens: Cuneiform and Classical Sources Reconsidered.” <i>A History of the Ancient Near East: ca. 3000-323 BC.Iraq</i> 2nd ed. 56 (London: Blackwell, 20071994), p. 3</ref> For most of Assyrian history, the primary political capital was located in the city of Ashur, but Nineveh’s importance gradually grew until it eclipsed the older city.

Long before Nineveh became But the capital of details concerning how the Assyrian Empire in city fell are as important to the early first millennium BCcity’s history as its great monuments. As great as Nineveh once was, it was mentioned sporadically in various cuneiform historical texts. There were two notable mentions fell victim to a combination of internal problems within the city in Assyrian royal house and the late third millennium BC, ever-present and a large number of enemies the first being Assyrians managed to create during the their brutal reign of terror over the Akkadian King Manishutushu (ruled caNear East. 2269-2255 BC)In the end, who is believed to have built a temple to the Mesopotamian goddess of love and war, Ishtar, at Assyrians’ enemies saw Nineveh. <ref> Mieroop, p. 68</ref> Nineveh was also mentioned in a text attributed to as a king from the Third Dynasty symbol of Urtheir overlords, Shulgi (reigned ca. 2094-2047 BC), although so they wiped it from the reference is short and lacks detail. <ref> Beckman, Gary. “Ishtar face of Nineveh Reconsidered.” <i>Journal of Cuneiform Studies</i> 50 (1998), p. 1</ref> For over 2,000 years, Nineveh languished as a provincial backwater until the Assyrians invoked their will across the Near East and a particularly energetic king came to the throneearth.

When Sennacherib (ruled 704-681 BC) assumed the Assyrian throne, he followed in the footsteps of his predecessors by leading his armies into battle and conquering more land for ====What was the Assyrian peopleEmpire?====[[File: Gardens_of_Nineveh. But Sennacherib was not content to be remembered as just another conquering png|250px|thumbnail|left|Assyrian king, he desired to leave much more for posterity, so after his fifth military campaign he relocated Relief Depicting the Assyrian capital from Ashur to Gardens of Nineveh. <ref> Mieroop, p. 229</ref> Although a settlement already existed at Nineveh, Sennacherib transformed it from a minor religious center dedicated to Ishtar into the premier city of the ancient world.]]

On Nineveh was located in the citadel that overlooked middle of ancient Assyria, centered on the Kosr Tigris Riverin northern Mesopotamia in what would today be the northern part of Iraq. As part of the Fertile Crescent, Sennacherib much of Assyria had good soil that allowed a palace surplus in crops and exceptional population growth. Like many ancient cities, Nineveh was built – known by modern scholars as on a mound for defense overlooking the southwest palace to differentiate it from the northwest palace built by the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal (reigned 668-627 BC) – Kosr River, which he adorned with is a tributary of the many battle reliefs that are now housed Tigris River. Although much of Assyria was fertile cropland in the British Museum in Londonancient times, England. Next to the palaces stood the temples of the Assyrians two most important deitiesarea around Nineveh was exceptionally productive, Ishtar and Nabu, the god of writing and knowledgemaking it an excellent location for a city. <ref> NovákMieroop, MirkoMarc van de. “From Ashur to Nineveh<i>A History of the Ancient Near East: The Assyrian Townca. 3000-Planning Programme323 BC.” <i>Iraq</i> 66 2nd ed. (2004London: Blackwell, 2007), p. 1823</ref> The palaces and temples For most of Nineveh must have been a truly impressive sight for any visitor to seeAssyrian history, but perhaps the most spectacular sight were primary political capital was located in the gardens city of SennacheribAshur. Still, Nineveh’s importance gradually grew until it eclipsed the older city.

The gardens of Sennacherib were depicted Long before Nineveh became the Assyrian Empire's capital in the early first millennium BC, it was mentioned sporadically in both pictorial reliefs and a number of various cuneiform historical texts. According to one textThere were two notable mentions of the city in the late third millennium BC, the gardens were comprised first being during the reign of “every fruitthe Akkadian King Manishutushu (ruled ca. 2269-bearing tree . . . cypress and mulberry2255 BC), all kinds of trees” that were home who is believed to have built a temple to “the birds the Mesopotamian goddess of heavenlove and war, Ishtar, at Nineveh. <iref>igiruMieroop, p. 68</iref> birds Nineveh was also mentioned in a text attributed to a king from the Third Dynasty of Ur, Shulgi (reigned ca. . . wild swine 2094-2047 BC), although the reference is short and beasts of the forestslacks detail.” <ref> Luckenbill, Daniel DavidBeckman, transGary. and ed“Ishtar of Nineveh Reconsidered. ” <i>Ancient Records Journal of Assyria and Babylonia.Cuneiform Studies</i> 50 (London: Histories and Mysteries of Man, 19891998), p. 177-81</ref> Sennacherib built For over 2,000 years, Nineveh into what was perhaps the greatest city in languished as a provincial backwater until the world at Assyrians invoked their will across the time Near East and his successor Ashurbanipal certainly added to that legacy, but a spate of problems both within and outside of the Assyrian heartland manifested particularly energetic king came to bring the great city to a sudden endthrone.

===Nineveh’s Quick Collapse=How did Nineveh become the capital of the Assyrian Empire?====[[File: Delacroix_sardanapalus_1828.jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|1828 Painting “Death of Sardanapalus” By Eugene Delacroix Depicting the Fall of Nineveh]]The stable and effective reigns of When Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal were followed by a short period of instability that was brought forth by court intrigues. Ashurbanipal’s successor was the little documented Ashur-etel-ilani (ruled 627704-623 681 BC)assumed the Assyrian throne, whose short reign led he followed his predecessors' footsteps by leading his armies into battle and conquering more land for the Assyrian people. But Sennacherib was not content to a succession crisis in the be remembered as just another conquering Assyrian royal houseking. Important members of He desired to leave much more for posterity, so he relocated the nobility opposed Assyrian capital from Ashur-etel-ilani and eventually usurped the king in favor of a royal eunuch named Sin-shum-lishir (the years of Nineveh after his reign are imprecise)fifth military campaign. <ref> Kuhrt, Amélie. <i> The Ancient Near East: c. 3000-330 BC.</i> Volume 2. (London: Routledge, 2010)Mieroop, p. 541229</ref> The succession problems in the Assyrian royal house contributed Although a settlement already existed at Nineveh, Sennacherib transformed it from a minor religious center dedicated to the decline of their empire and that of their capital Ishtar's premier city of Nineveh, but the final blow came from outside Assyriaancient world.

For centuries, the Assyrians were able to impose their will on On the other peoples throughout citadel that overlooked the Near East through a combination of efficient brutality and superior battlefield tactics and technologiesKosr River, but by the seventh century BC their neighbors Sennacherib had caught up in most of those categories. In the ancient city of Babylon, a new dynasty of ethnic Chaldeans came to power, which is palace built – known by modern scholars as the “Neo-Babylonian” Dynasty, and just southwest palace to differentiate it from the east of Assyria in Persia, northwest palace built by the Kingdom of the Medes was adding pressure. The first NeoAssyrian King Ashurbanipal (reigned 668-Babylonian king, Nabopolassar (ruled 627-623 BC) was as aggressive as any Assyrian king and by all accounts just as politically savvy. According to – which he adorned with the cuneiform historical text known as many battle reliefs that are now housed in the “Babylonian ChronicleBritish Museum in London,” Nabopolassar mustered an army at Babylon in 616 BC and marched north England. Next to destroy the Assyrians and Nineveh. Ironically, palaces stood the Assyrians were saved by their once rival the Egyptians' temples two most important deities, who led by their King Psamtek I (ruled 664-610 BC)Ishtar and Nabu, were able to fight off the Neo-Babylonian attackgod of writing and knowledge. <ref> GraysonNovák, AMirko. Kirk, trans“From Ashur to Nineveh: The Assyrian Town-Planning Programme. ” <i> Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles.Iraq</i> 66 (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 20002004), p. 91182</ref>The palaces and temples of Nineveh must have been an awe-inspiring sight for any visitor to see, but perhaps the most spectacular sight was the gardens of Sennacherib.

The Assyrian-Egyptian victory at Nineveh gardens of Sennacherib were depicted in 616 BC would prove both pictorial reliefs and several texts. According to be ephemeral for King Sinone text, the gardens were comprised of “every fruit-shar-ishkun (reigned cabearing tree . . . 627-612 BC) (referred to as “Sardanapalus” in the Greek cypress and Roman histories)mulberry, though, because the enemies all kinds of Assyria smelled blood in the water and trees” that were lining up home to divide the spoils “the birds of heaven, <i>igiru</i> birds . . . wild swine and beasts of the once mighty empireforests. In order to build an effective alliance” <ref> Luckenbill, Daniel David, Nabopolassar next reached out to an assortment trans. And ed. <i>Ancient Records of Assyria’s enemies who were led by the MedesAssyria and Babylonia. The strategy for the final victory over the Assyrians </i> (London: Histories and the destruction Mysteries of Man, 1989), p. 177-8</ref> Sennacherib built Nineveh involved a classic pincer movement whereby the Neo-Babylonians attacked into what was perhaps the greatest city from in the south and west while world at the Medes time and their allies converged from the north his successor Ashurbanipal certainly added to that legacy, but a spate of problems both within and east. The victory for outside of the allies was completed in 612 BC, as was Assyrian heartland manifested to bring the destruction of Nineveh, which is documented in the Babylonian Chronicle:great city to a sudden end.

(Instead) the army of the king of Akkad, which had been stationed in the fortress, inflicted a major defeat upon Assyria. The king of Assyria and his army [turned] and went home. In the month Marchesvan the Medes went down to Arraphu and [. . .] The twelfth year: in the month Ab the Medes, after they had marched against Nineveh [. . .] hastened and they captured Tarbisu, a city in the district of Nineveh. . . From the month Sivan until the month Ab – for three [months . . .] they subjected the city to a heavy siege. [On the Nth day] of the month Ab [. . .] they inflicted a major [defeat upon a g]reat [people]. At that time Sin-sharra-ishkun, king of Assyria, [died] . . . They carried off the vast booty of the city and the temple (and)[turned] the city into a ruin heap. <ref> Grayson, pgs. 92dh-94<ad/ref>

The classical authors offered stable and effective reigns of Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal were followed by a more dramatic version short period of instability brought forth by court intrigues. Ashurbanipal’s successor was the little-documented Ashur-etel-ilani (ruled 627-623 BC), whose short reign led to a succession crisis in the Assyrian royal house. Important members of the nobility opposed Ashur-etel-ilani and eventually usurped the king in favor of Nineveh’s fall where a royal eunuch named Sin-sharshum-ishkun burned himself alive with all lishir (the years of his material possessionsreign are imprecise). <ref> DiodorusKuhrt, Amélie. <i> The Library of HistoryAncient Near East: c. 3000-330 BC.</i> Translated by C.H. OldfatherVolume 2. (Cambridge, MassachusettsLondon: Harvard University PressRoutledge, 20042010), Book II, 27p. 541</ref> Nineveh’s destruction was also briefly mentioned The succession problems in the Old Testament of Assyrian royal house contributed to the Bible in the book decline of Nahum where the prophet states, “Nineveh is their empire and that of old like a pool their capital city of water; yet they shall flee away, Stand, standNineveh, shall they cry; but none shall look back.” <ref> Nah. 2:6-10</ref> Once Nineveh fell, the Assyrian Empire limped on for another three years before it was finally relegated to the dust bin of historyfinal blow came from outside Assyria.

For centuries, the Assyrians could impose their will on the other peoples throughout the Near East through a combination of efficient brutality and superior battlefield tactics and technologies. Still, by the seventh century BC, their neighbors had caught up in most of those categories. In Babylon's ancient city, a new dynasty of ethnic Chaldeans came to power. Modern scholars know as the “Neo-Babylonian” Dynasty, and just to the east of Assyria in Persia, the Kingdom of the Medes was adding pressure. The first Neo-Babylonian king, Nabopolassar (ruled 627-623 BC), was as aggressive as any Assyrian king and, by all accounts, just as politically savvy. According to the cuneiform historical text known as the “Babylonian Chronicle,” Nabopolassar mustered an army at Babylon in 616 BC and marched north to destroy the Assyrians Nineveh. Ironically, the Assyrians were saved by their once rival, the Egyptians, who, led by their King Psamtek I (ruled 664-610 BC), were able to fight off the Neo-Babylonian attack. <ref> Grayson, A. Kirk, trans. <i> Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles.</i> (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 2000), p. 91</ref> The Assyrian-Egyptian victory at Nineveh in 616 BC would prove to be ephemeral for King Sin-shar-ishkun (reigned ca. 627-612 BC) (referred to as “Sardanapalus” in the Greek and Roman histories), though, because the enemies of Assyria smelled blood in the water and were lining up to divide the spoils of the once-mighty empire. To build an effective alliance, Nabopolassar reached out to an assortment of Assyria’s enemies, who the Medes led. The strategy for the final victory over the Assyrians and the destruction of Nineveh involved a classic pincer movement whereby the Neo-Babylonians attacked the city from the south and west. At the same time, the Medes and their allies converged from the north and east. The victory for the allies was completed in 612 BC, as was the destruction of Nineveh, which is documented in the Babylonian Chronicle: ====Who Destroyed Nineveh?====Instead, the army of the king of Akkad, which had been stationed in the fortress, inflicted a major defeat upon Assyria. The king of Assyria and his army [turned] and went home. In the month Marchesvan the Medes went down to Arraphu and [. . .] The twelfth year: in the month Ab the Medes, after they had marched against Nineveh [. . .] hastened and they captured Tarbisu, a city in the district of Nineveh. . . From the month Sivan until the month Ab – for three [months . . .] they subjected the city to a heavy siege. [On the Nth day] of the month Ab [. . .] they inflicted a major [defeat upon a g]reat [people]. At that time Sin-sharra-ishkun, king of Assyria, [died] . . . They carried off the city's vast booty, and the temple (and)[turned] the city into a ruin heap. <ref> Grayson, pgs. 92-94</ref> The classical authors offered a more dramatic version of Nineveh’s fall, where Sin-shar-ishkun burned himself alive with all of his material possessions. <ref> Diodorus. <i> The Library of History.</i> Translated by C.H. Oldfather. (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2004), Book II, 27</ref> Nineveh’s destruction was also briefly mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible in the book of Nahum where the prophet states, “Nineveh is of old like a pool of water; yet they shall flee away, Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.” <ref> Nah. 2:6-10</ref> Once Nineveh fell, the Assyrian Empire limped on for another three years before it was finally relegated to the dust bin of history. ==Conclusion===Many cities have risen and fallen throughout the course of world history, but few have had such a dramatic history as the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh. At its height, Nineveh was arguably the most cultured and sophisticated city in the ancient Near East, but a combination of factors led to its quick demise. Dynastic quarrels within the Assyrian royal house precipitated the city’s decline, which allowed for allowing Assyria’s many enemies to ally and eventually siege and sack the once great capital city of Nineveh. {{Mediawiki:Cell}}