Nimrud (Kalhu) – Assyrian Capital Harbour on Tigris
Kalhu · Nimrud · Calah · Ashurnasirpal city
Early Dynastic to Neo-Assyrian (c. 2700 BCE – 612 BCE)·Assyrian / Mitanni / Neo-Assyrian·🇮🇶 Nineveh Governorate, Nimrud (Kalhu), Iraq
About
About Nimrud (Kalhu) – Assyrian Capital Harbour on Tigris
Nimrud (Kalhu/Calah) – Ashurnasirpal II's 879 BCE Assyrian capital, Shalmaneser III's Black Obelisk and palace, whose Tigris river harbour (60 m limestone quay) handled cedar for Ashurnasirpal's palace and war booty from Zagros, now silted 1.5 km west after Tigris meander + 612 BCE sack then ISIS 2015–2017 dynamiting (Ziggurat, palace). Layard 1845–, Mallowan 1949–63 uncovered harbour quay blocks, balustrade reliefs and Nimrud Ivories in harbour palace (Fort Shalmaneser). The quay's 60 m limestone ashlar with mooring rings lies under irrigated fields at –1 m.
Why it mattersPremier Assyrian capital harbour preserving intact Kalhu quay and Palace Without Rival harbour gate; UNESCO Tentative List; ISIS damage stratigraphy.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Tigris palaeomeander position relative to quay (500 m vs 1.5 km)
- 02Extent of ISIS harbour quay damage
Theories
- 01Layard's winged bull harbour gate now in British Museum
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Settlement EB; capital 879 BCE Ashurnasirpal II; quay 9th c.
- Period
- Early Dynastic to Neo-Assyrian (c. 2700 BCE – 612 BCE)
- Culture
- Assyrian / Mitanni / Neo-Assyrian
- Purpose
- Tigris grain, cedar and tribute port – Assyrian war palace harbour
- Abandoned
- 612 BCE Babylonian–Medes sack + Tigris shift; 2015 ISIS destruction
- Rediscovered
- Layard 1845; Mallowan 1949; Oates 2001
- Excavation
- Buried
Settlement EB; capital 879 BCE Ashurnasirpal II; quay 9th c.
Initial construction
c. 1455 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
36.0980° N · 43.3270° E · 275 m · 3 mapped features
Tigris River Quay (60 m)
harbourLimestone quay wall 60 m at –1 m west of citadel with mooring rings – Tigris harbour quay
36.0985° N · 43.3260° EHarbour Gate Lamassu Pair
gateWinged lamassu harbour gate with colossal bulls guarding quay entrance – now in British Museum
36.0990° N · 43.3275° EFort Shalmaneser Harbour Palace
palaceFort Shalmaneser arsenal-palace storing harbour tribute ivories – Nimrud Ivories findspot
36.0970° N · 43.3280° E