Acropolis of Nimrud

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Location of the Acropolis in the ancient city

The acropolis of Nimrud is the main part of the archaeological site Nimrud (Assyrian Kalḫu) in today's Iraq . On it were the representative buildings of the Neo-Assyrian Empire , which were built by the kings from Aššur-nâṣir-apli II after he moved the capital here. However, these are best known for their appearance from around the year 612 BC. When they were destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians . Excavations took place here in particular by Austen Henry Layard and later Max Mallowan , who mainly concentrated on these representative Neo-Assyrian buildings.

In the northwest corner of the Acropolis was a ziggurat consecrated to Ninurta , which was associated with a temple dedicated to this god . It was built by Aššur-nâṣir-apli II, who also had other temples built, but these are poorly preserved. To the south of it he built his Northwest Palace . Adad-nīrārī III built it south of it . a palace and the so-called governor's palace , which served mainly as an administrative building. The Nabū Temple , which he built together with his mother Šammuramat , also comes from him . The so-called central palace was built by Tukulti-apil-Ešarra III. erected, but it is also poorly preserved. The "burned down palace" received its final appearance under his successor Šarru-kīn II. This building served primarily as an administrative building, also had a throne room, but did not have the ancillary rooms necessary for use as a residence . Aššur-aḫḫe-iddina finally built a residence in the south-west. Other representative buildings are only relatively poorly known. The entire acropolis was surrounded by a wall, outside of which there were also regular houses.

When it was destroyed, the Acropolis was largely built on with representative buildings, although the complex did not follow a fixed scheme. Between them lay numerous squares of different shapes and sizes, the entire area was from one to Šulmanu-ašared III. declining road network. The Acropolis was accessible via two ramps.

literature

  • Max Mallowan: Nimrud and its remains . Vol. 1. London, Collins 1966.
  • Ernst Heinrich : Architecture from the old to the late Babylonian period . In: Winfried Orthmann: The Old Orient ( Propylaea Art History Bd. 14). Propylaea Verlag, Berlin 1975, No. 74.

Coordinates: 36 ° 5 ′ 53.8 "  N , 43 ° 19 ′ 43"  E