Fascination of Nineveh: Archaeologists discover King Ashurbanipal's secrets!

Fascination of Nineveh: Archaeologists discover King Ashurbanipal's secrets!

The researchers of the Heidelberg Nineveh Project, led by Prof. Dr. Stefan Maul, made in the ancient city of Nineveh. This city, known for its historical relevance, was inhabited in the late 8th century BC. The capital of the Assyrian Empire under King Sennacherib. Today the site is part of Mosul, Iraq, a region famous for its rich archaeological finds. The new finds come from Kuyunjik Mound, where Aaron Schmitt and his team have been digging since 2022 to learn more about the artifacts and history of the city.

Historically, Nineveh was a center of the Assyrian Empire, which stretched from Persia to the Mediterranean. King Ashurbanipal, a major monarch of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, ruled over an empire that encompassed not only large territories but also diverse cultures and peoples. Under his rule, which lasted from 668 to at least the middle of the 7th century BC. Lasted until the end of the 2nd century BC, significant military and cultural achievements were achieved. Ashurbanipal was known for his education and his ability to administer a large empire that stretched from Egypt to the eastern borders of Babylonia, underscoring the importance of this region.

The new discovery

The newly discovered relief shows King Ashurbanipal flanked by the deities Ashur and Ishtar and other figures. One of these figures could be reconstructed as a scorpion man. The scientists suspect that a large winged sun disk was originally placed above the relief. The relief was located in a wall niche opposite the main entrance to the palace's throne room. Black pits in which the relief fragments were discovered were probably dug in the Hellenistic period.

These excavations are not taking place for the first time. As early as the late 19th century, British researchers carried out the first investigations of the North Palace, which resulted in the discovery of large-format reliefs that can now be seen in the British Museum. However, the current discovery was inaccessible to previous archaeologists due to its burial. Prof. Schmitt suspects that these fragments could fill an important gap in our understanding of the region.

Research and future

In collaboration with Iraq's State Antiquities Administration, the plan is to place the relief in its original location and make it accessible to the public. The scientists intend to examine the depiction and context of the find in detail and publish the results, which could significantly expand knowledge of Assyrian art and history.

The Assyrian Empire, whose history lasted over 1,200 years, played a crucial role in the development of civilizations in the Ancient Near East. With its impressive expansion and cultural diversity under rulers such as Ashurbanipal, the empire left a lasting mark on history that is still being studied in detail by historians and archaeologists today. Nineveh and the new archaeological finds are not only windows to the past, but also key to a deeper understanding of the ancient cultures and their rulers.