Assur
𒀸𒋩 (Aššur) · Qal'at Sherqat · Ashur · Aššur
Early Dynastic to Neo-Assyrian to Parthian·Assyrian (Akkadian dialect)·🇮🇶 Salah al-Din Governorate, Iraq
About
About Assur
First capital and holy city of Assyria (c.2600 BCE–614 BCE, 70 ha on Tigris bend) — temple of god Assur (Ashur) whose city and god name are one. Old Assyrian merchant karum (c.1975 BCE at Kanesh linked), then Middle and Neo-Assyrian metropolis with double walls, ziggurat, royal tombs under Old Palace (15 kings including Ashurbanipal's ancestors, discovered German 1990s intact but looted 2003), and vast cuneiform library. Sacked by Babylonian-Medes 614 BCE, now UNESCO in Danger.
Why it mattersAssyrian genesis; Old Palace royal tombs; cuneiform corpus; first capital.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Royal tomb looting 2003 recovery
- 02Assur dam flood threat
Theories
- 01Tigris bottleneck trade origin
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.2600 BCE; city-state c.2030 BCE; Neo-Assyrian peak 900–614 BCE
- Period
- Early Dynastic to Neo-Assyrian to Parthian
- Culture
- Assyrian (Akkadian dialect)
- Builders
- Ushpia, Shamshi-Adad I, Ashurnasirpal II, Sargon II
- Purpose
- Assyrian cult and empire first capital; trade node
- Abandoned
- 614 BCE (Medo-Babylonian sack)
- Rediscovered
- 1821 Rich; 1903–14 Andrae (German DOG)
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.1975 BCE
Karum Kanesh merchant tablets from Assur
614 BCE
Mede sack — city not rebuilt as capital
On the ground
Structures & features
35.4550° N · 43.2600° E · 125 m · 3 mapped features
Temple of Assur and ziggurat
zigguratTwin precinct of chief god
35.4555° N · 43.2605° EOld Palace royal tombs (Gruft)
tombAssyrian king vaults under palace
35.4548° N · 43.2595° ETabira Gate (city wall)
gateDouble fortification gate
35.4560° N · 43.2610° E