Ziggurat of Nimrud (Kalhu)
Kalhu Ziggurat · Nimrud Ziqqurat · Calah Ziggurat
Neo-Assyrian (883–612 BCE imperial capital; ziggurat 883 BCE)·Assyrian (Neo-Assyrian)·🇮🇶 Nineveh Governorate, Nimrud (Kalhu), Iraq
About
About Ziggurat of Nimrud (Kalhu)
Assyrian imperial second capital Kalhu/Nimrud (Assurnasirpal II 883–859 BCE): mudbrick ziggurat crowning citadel mound adjacent to Northwest Palace with famous Nimrud ivories, throne room and lamassu. Base ~60 × 60 m, height ~50 m originally, now eroded mound 40 m high with baked brick facing and vaulted passage. Sacked 612 BCE, excavated by Layard, Mallowan, Iraqi DOT; ISIL 2015–16 destroyed palace but ziggurat mound survives.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Ziggurat dedication ambiguity Ninurta vs Enlil vs own god Kalkhu
Theories
- 01Citadel as theatrical power display: ziggurat, arsenal (Fort Shalmaneser) and palace as stages of empire
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. 883 BCE (Assurnasirpal II)
- Period
- Neo-Assyrian (883–612 BCE imperial capital; ziggurat 883 BCE)
- Culture
- Assyrian (Neo-Assyrian)
- Purpose
- Citadel high temple to Ninurta/ Ninurta-Nergal at heart of Assyrian warfare capital
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 883 BCE (Assurnasirpal II)
Initial construction
c. 1150 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
36.0981° N · 43.3289° E · 230 m · 3 mapped features
- Ziggurat mound south citadelziggurat50m high ziggurat core under later debris36.0980° N · 43.3285° E
- Northwest Palace of Assurnasirpal IIpalaceThrone room with reliefs, ivories store36.0990° N · 43.3270° E
- Fort Shalmaneser arsenalarsenal2 km southeast great arsenal and horse stables36.0955° N · 43.3300° E
Gallery