Difference between revisions of "Nineveh"

<p> (See [[Assyria.)]] [[Nimrod]] builded [[Nineveh]] (&nbsp;Genesis 10:11); [[Herodotus]] (i. 7) makes [[Ninus]] founder of Nineveh. and grandson of [[Belus]] founder of Babylon; which implies that it was from Babylon, as [[Scripture]] says, that Nineveh's founder came. [[Nin]] is the [[Assyrian]] Hercules. Their mythology also makes Ninus son of Nimrod. Jonah is the next Scripture after [[Genesis]] 10 that mentions Nineveh. (See [[Jonah.)]] [[Sennacherib]] after his host's destruction "went and dwelt at Nineveh" (&nbsp;2 Kings 19:36). Jonah (&nbsp;Jonah 3:3) describes it as an "exceeding great city of three days' journey" round ''(i.e. 60 miles, at 20 miles per day)'' with 120,000 children "who knew not their right hand from their left" (&nbsp;Jonah 4:11), which would make a population in all of 600,000 or even one million. [[Diodorus]] Siculus (ii. 3), agreeing with Jonah's "three days' journey," makes the circumference 55 miles, pastures and pleasure grounds being included within, from whence Jonah appositely (&nbsp;Jonah 4:11) mentions "much cattle." [[G.]] Smith thinks that the ridges enclosing Nebi Yunus and Koyunjik ''(the mounds called "tels" opposite Mosul)'' were only the walls of inner Nineveh, the city itself extending beyond to the mound Yarenijah. </p> <p> The parallelogram in [[Assyria]] covered with remains has Khorsabad [[N.E.;]] Koyunjik and Nebi Yunus ''(Nineveh in the narrow sense)'' near the [[Tigris]] [[N.W.;]] Nimrud and Athur between the Tigris and Zab, [[N.W.;]] and Karamles at a distance inward from the Zab [[S.E.]] From Koyunjik to Nimrud is 18 miles; from Khorsabad to Karamles 18; from Koyunjik to Khorsabad 13 or 14; from Nimrud to Karamles 14. The length was greater than the breadth; so &nbsp;Jonah 3:4 "entered into the city a day's journey." The longer sides were 150 furlongs each, the shorter 90 furlongs, the whole circuit 480 or 460 miles. [[Babylon]] had a circuit of only 385 miles (Clitarchus in Diod. ii. 7, [[Strabo]] xvi. 737). The walls were 100 ft. high, with 1,500 towers, and broad enough for three chariots abreast. Shereef [[Khan]] is the northern extremity of the collection of mounds on the eastern bank of the Tigris, and is five and a half miles [[N.]] of Koyunjik. There is also an enclosure, 5,000 yards in circuit, once enclosed by a moat at Selamivah three miles [[N.]] of Nimrud. Nimrud in inscriptions is called Kalkhu or [[Calah]] in &nbsp;Genesis 10:11; Khorsabad is called Sargina from Sargon. At Kileh Sherghat is the presumed original capital," Asshur," 60 miles [[S.]] of Mosul, on the right or western bank of the Tigris. </p> <p> Sennacherib first made Nineveh the capital. Nineveh was at first only a fort to keep the [[Babylonian]] conquests around. It subsequently, with Rehoboth, Ir, Calah, and Resen, formed one great city, "Nineveh" in the larger sense. Thothmes [[Iii]] of Egypt is mentioned in inscriptions as capturing Nineveh. Phraortes the [[Mede]] perished in attempting to do so (Herodotus i. 102). [[Cyaxares]] his successor, after at first raising the siege owing to a Scythic invasion (Herodotus i. 103, 106) 625 [[B.C.,]] finally succeeded in concert with the Babylonian Nabopolassar, 606 [[B.C.,]] Saracus the last king, Esarhaddon's grandson, set fire to the palace and perished in the flames, as [[Ctesias]] states, and as the marks of fire on the walls still confirm. So &nbsp;Nahum 3:13; &nbsp;Nahum 3:15, "fire shall devour thy bars." Charred wood, calcined alabaster, and heat splintered figures abound. Nahum (Nahum 2) and Zephaniah (&nbsp;Zephaniah 2:13-15) foretold its doom; and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 31) shortly after attests the completeness of its overthrow, as a warning of the fatal issue of pride, &nbsp;Isaiah 10:7-14; Diodorus (ii. 27) says there was a prophecy that Nineveh should not fall until the river became its enemy. </p> <p> The immediate cause of capture was the city walls destruction by a sudden rise in the river. So Nahum (&nbsp;Nahum 1:8; &nbsp;Nahum 2:6; &nbsp;Nahum 2:8) foretold "with an over running flood He will make an utter end of the place;" "the gates of the rivers shall be opened and the palace shall be dissolved," namely, by the inundation; "Nineveh is of old like a pool of water (though of old defended by water around), yet (its inhabitants) shall flee." There was a floodgate at the [[N.W.]] angle of the city, which was swept away; and the water pouring into the city "dissolved" the palace foundation platform, of sundried bricks. Nineveh then totally disappears from history; it never rose again. Nahum (&nbsp;Nahum 1:10; &nbsp;Nahum 3:11) accords with Diodorus Siculus that the final assault was made during a drinking bout of king and courtiers: "while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry ... Thou shalt be drunken," etc. The treasures accumulated by many kings were rifled, as Nahum foretells; "take ye the spoil of silver ... gold, for there is none end of the store;" the people were "scattered upon the mountains" (&nbsp;Nahum 3:18). </p> <p> He calls it "the city of bloods," truly (&nbsp;Nahum 3:1); the wall carvings represent the king in the act of putting out his captives' eyes, and dragging others by a hook through the lips and a cord. Other cities have revived, but Nahum foretells "there is no healing of thy bruise" (&nbsp;Nahum 3:19). [[Lucian]] of Samosara near the [[Euphrates]] asserts none in his day even knew where Nineveh stood. Its former luxury is embodied in the statue of Sardanapalus as a dancer, which he directed (Plutarch says) to be erected after his death, with the motto "eat, drink, enjoy lust ... the rest is nothing!" The language of its inscriptions is Semitic, for the main population was a colony of Asshur, son of Shem; and besides the prevalent Semitic a Turanian dialect has been found on tablets at Koyunjik, derived from its original [[Cushite]] founder Nimrod of Babylon and his band. At Nimrud the oldest palaces are in the [[N.W.]] grainer, the most recent at the [[S.E.]] The table of Karnak in Egypt (1490 [[B.C.)]] connects Niniu (Nineveh) with Naharaima or Naharaim or Mesopotamia. Sir [[H.]] Rawlinson published 1862 an Assyrian canon from the monuments. </p> <p> The first kings reigned when the early [[Chaldee]] empire had its seat in lower Mesopotamia. Asshur-bil-nisis, Buzur Ashur, and [[Asshur]] Vatila from 1653 to 1550 [[B.C.,]] when Purnapuriyas and Durri-galazu were the last of the early Chaldaean monarchy. Then [[Bel]] Sumill Kapi founds a dynasty after a chasm of two centuries. "Bellush, Pudil, and Ivalush" are inscribed on bricks at Kileh Sherghat, 1350-1270 [[B.C.]] [[Shalmaneser]] [[I,]] son of Ivalush [[I,]] is mentioned on a genealogical slab as founder of Nimrud. Tiglath-i-nin his son inscribes himself" conqueror of Babylon"; [[Sargon]] finally conquered it. Tiglath-inin's successor Ivalush [[Ii]] (1250 [[B.C.)]] enlarged the empire and closes the dynasty. By a revolution Nin pala Zira ascends the throne, "the king of the commencement" as the Tiglath Pileser cylinder calls him. Then Asshurdahil, Mutaggil Nebo, Asshur-ris-ilim ''(conqueror of a [[Nebuchadnezzar]] of Babylon)'' , Tiglath Pileser [[I]] ''(subdued Meshech)'' , Asshur-belkala; a blank of two centuries follows when David's and Solomon's extensive dominion has place. Asshur-iddin-akhi begins the next dynasty (950-930 [[B.C.).]] </p> <p> Asshur-danin-il and Iralush [[Iii]] follow; then Tiglath-i-nin; Asshur-idanni-pal next after ten victorious campaigns built a palace at Calah, 360 ft. long by 300 broad, with man lions at the gateways, and by a canal brought the Zab waters to Calah; he was "lord from the upper Tigris to [[Lebanon]] and the great sea." His son Shalmaneser [[Ii]] took tribute from [[Tyre]] and [[Sidon]] and fought [[Benhadad]] and Hazael. [[A]] picture represents him receiving from [[Jewish]] captives tribute of [[Jehu]] king of Israel, gold, pearl, and oil. He built the central palace of Nimrud, opened by Layard. The black marble obelisk ''(in the British Museum)'' records his exploits and Jehu's name. Then Shamas-Iva, Iralush [[Iv]] and his wife Semiramis, a Babylonian princess, Shalmaneser [[Iii,]] Asshur-danin-il [[Ii,]] Asshur-lush. Then Tiglath Pileser [[Ii,]] probably Pul, usurps the throne by revolution, for he does not mention his father as others do, 744 [[B.C.]] Under him "Menahem" appears in inscriptions, and "tribute from the house of Omri" i.e. [[Samaria]] (&nbsp;2 Kings 15:19; &nbsp;2 Kings 15:29). </p> <p> [[Ahaz]] enlisted him as ally against Samaria and Damascus; Tiglath Pileser conquered them and received tribute from Jahu-khazi or Ahaz. An inscription in the British Museum records Rezin's death (Rawlinson's Monarchies, 2:398,399). Tiglath Pileser built a new palace at Nimrud. Then Shalmaneser [[Iv]] ''(not in the canon)'' (&nbsp;2 Kings 17:3-4) assailed Samaria, upon Hoshea's leaguing with So of Egypt, and withholding tribute. In a chamber at Koyunjik was found among other seals now in British Museum the seal of So or Sabacho and that of Sennacherib affixed to a treaty between them, of which the parchment has perished. Sargon ("king de facto") usurped the throne and took Samaria ''(he says in inscriptions)'' in his first year; he built the palace at Khorsabad. Sennacherib his son succeeded 704 [[B.C.]] and reigned 24 years. He built the palace at the [[S.W.]] corner of Koyunjik, covering 100 acres almost, excavated by Layard. (See [[Sennacherib.)]] Of it 60 courts, halls (some 150 ft. square), and passages (one 200 ft. long) have been discovered. The human headed lions and bulls at its many portals are some 20 ft. high. [[Esarhaddon]] succeeded, as he styles himself "king of Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Meroe, and Ethiopia;" or Asnapper; he imprisoned Manasseh. (See [[Asnapper;]] [[Manasseh.)]] </p> <p> He built a temple at the [[S.W.]] corner of Nimrud, and a palace at Nebi Yunus. Asshurbani-pal succeeded, a hunter and warrior; his library of clay tablets, religious, legal, historical, and scientific, is in British Museum. He built a palace at Koyunjik, near Sennacherib's. His son, the last king, Asshuremid-ilin or Asshur-izzir-pal (Saracus or Sardanapalus), built the [[S.E.]] edifice at Nimrud. The palace walls were from five to fifteen feet thick, erected on an artificial platform 30 to 50 ft. above the surrounding level, and paneled with slabs of coarse alabaster sculptured and inscribed. The plaster above the alabaster wainscoting was ornamented with figures; the pavement was of alabaster or flat kiln-burnt bricks resting on bitumen and fine sand. The Nimrud grand hall is only 35 ft. broad (though 160 ft. long), to admit of roofing with the short beams to be had. The ceilings were gaily colored. </p> <p> The portals were guarded by colossal human headed bulls; thence was an ascent to a higher platform, and on the top a gateway, sometimes 90 ft. wide, guarded also by winged bulls; inside was the great door, opening into a sculpture adorned passage; then the inner court, then the state apartments. There may have been an upper story of sun-dried bricks and wood, for there are no stone or marble columns or burnt brick remains. The large halls may have been roofless, a ledge projecting round the four sides and supporting an awning as shelter against rain and sun. However &nbsp;Zephaniah 2:14 mentions "the cedar work," cedars from Lebanon may have reached from wall to wall with openings for light. </p> <p> The chambers were built round the central hall. In &nbsp;Nahum 2:3 translated "the chariots ''(shall be furnished)'' with fire flashing scythes," literally, "with the fire of scythes" or "iron weapons." No traces of such scythe-armed chariots are found in Assyria; either then it applies to the besiegers, or "the chariots shall come with the glitter of steel weapons." The "red shield" (&nbsp;Nahum 2:3) accords with the red painting of the shields and dresses in the sculptures. The king, with beardless eunuch behind holding an umbrella and the winged symbol of [[Deity]] above, appears in various carvings; he was despotic. [[Kitchen]] operations, husbandry and irrigation implements are represented also. </p> <p> '''Religion.''' The man bull and man lion answer to Nin and Nergal, the gods of war and the chase. [[Nisroch]] the eagle-headed god and [[Dagon]] the fishheaded god often appear in the sculptures. The sacred tree answers to Asheerah, "the grove" (&nbsp;2 Kings 21:7). The chief gods were Asshur, Bel, Beltis or Myletta, [[Sin]] the moon, Shamash (Hebrew shemesh ) the sun, Vul or Iva the thunder wielder, Nin, etc. "Witchcrafts" and "whoredoms" in connection with Nineveh's worship are denounced by &nbsp;Nahum 3:4. The immense palaces, the depositories of the national records, were at once the gods' temple and the king's abode, for he was the religious head of the nation and the favorite of the gods. </p> <p> '''Language and writing.''' [[Clay]] cylinders pierced through so as to turn round and present their sides to the reader, bricks, and slabs are the materials inscribed on. The wedge ''('' cuneus '' from whence "cuneiform")'' in various forms and directions, upright, horizontal, and diagonal, is the main element of the 250 distinct alphabetical characters. This mode of writing prevailed for 2000 years [[B.C.]] in Assyria, Babylonia, and eastern Persia. The alphabet is syllabic. Determinatives are prefixed to some words, as </p> <p> ↓ - prefixed marks the word as a man's name; </p> <p> ↓↓ - marks the plural; </p> <p> ↓← - marks the dual. </p> <p> It is related to Hebrew, thus, u "and" is the [[Hebrew]] ve; ki is in both "if"; anaku or Hebrew 'anoki [["I";]] 'atta' in both is "thou"; 'abu or'ab (Hebrew), "father"; nahar in both is a "river." [[Feminine]] nouns end in ''-it'' or ''-at'' ; Hebrew end with ''-ith'' . Sh is the shortened relative pronoun "who, which," as in later Hebrew; mah in both asks a question. The verb as in Hebrew is conjugated by pronominal suffixes. The roots are biliteral, the Hebrew both biliteral and triliteral. Μit , "to die"; Hebrew muth . Sib , "to dwell"; Hebrew yashab . Τiglath means "adoration." Ρal , "son," the [[Aramaic]] bar; sat "king"; ris, Hebrew rosh , "head." </p> <p> The northwestern palace of Nineveh has the longest inscription; it records concerning Sardanapalus [[Ii.]] Sennacherib's inscription concerning Hezekiah, on two man-headed bulls from Koyunjik, is the most interesting. Bas-reliefs of the siege of [[Lachish]] accompany it. (See [[Lachish.)]] By a tentative process recurring proper names were first deciphered by Grotefend, Rawlinson, Hincks, Fox Talbot, Oppert, etc., as in Darius' inscription at Behistun. Parallel parts of the same inscription in snorter language (as the hieroglyphics and Greek on the [[Rosetta]] stone enabled Champollion to discover the former) verified the results, and duplicate phrases brought, out the meaning of words. </p> <p> '''Tombs''' . [[Chaldaea]] is as full of tombs as Assyria is void of them. Probably Chaldaea was the burial place of the Assyrian kings; Arrian (Exped. Alex. 7:22) states that their tombs were in the marshes [[S.]] of Babylon. </p> <p> '''Art, Commerce''' . [[Egyptian]] art is characterized by calm repose, Assyrian art by energy and action. Egyptian architecture is derived from a stone prototype, Assyrian from a wooden one, in agreement with the physical features of the respective countries. Solomon's temple and palace, with grand hall and chambers, paneled with slabs sculptured with trees, the upper part of the walls painted in various colors, the winged cherubim carved all round, the flowers and pomegranates, correspond to the Nineveh palaces in a great measure. Silk, blue clothes, and embroidered work were traded in by Nineveh's merchants (&nbsp;Ezekiel 27:23-24; &nbsp;Nahum 3:16). The Chaldaean [[Nestorians]] in the [[Kurdistan]] mountains and the villages near Mosul are the sole representatives of the ancient [[Assyrians]] and Babylonians. </p>

<p> '''Nin'eveh.''' ''(abode of Ninus).'' The capital of the ancient kingdom and empire of Assyria. The name appears to be compounded, from that of an Assyrian deity, "Nin," corresponding, it is conjectured, with the Greek Hercules, and occurring in the names of several Assyrian kings, as in "Ninus," the mythic founder, according to Greek tradition of the city. </p> <p> Nineveh is situated on the eastern bank of the river Tigris, 50 miles from its mouth and 250 miles north of Babylon. It is first mentioned in the Old Testament, in connection with the primitive dispersement and migrations of the human race. Asshur, or according to the marginal reading, which is generally preferred, Nimrod is there described, &nbsp;Genesis 10:11, as extending his kingdom from the land of [[Shinar]] or Babylonia, in the south, to Assyria in the north and founding four cities, of which the most famous was Nineveh. Hence, Assyria was subsequently known to the [[Jews]] as, "the land of Nimrod," compare &nbsp;Micah 5:6, and was believed to have been first peopled by a colony from Babylon. </p> <p> The kingdom of Assyria and of the Assyrians is referred to in the Old [[Testament]] as connected with the Jews at a very early period, as in &nbsp;Numbers 24:22: &nbsp;Numbers 24:24, and &nbsp;Psalms 83:8. But after the notice of the foundation of Nineveh in Genesis, no further mention is made of the city, until the time of the book of Jonah, or the eighth century [[B.C.]] In this book, no mention is made of Assyria or the Assyrians, the king to whom the prophet was sent being termed the, "king of Nineveh," and his subjects "the people of Nineveh." </p> <p> Assyria is first called a kingdom in the time of Menahem, about [[B.C.]] 770. Nahum, (? [[B.C.]] 645), directs his prophecies against Nineveh, only once against the king of Assyria. &nbsp;Nahum 3:18. In &nbsp;2 Kings 19:36 and &nbsp;Isaiah 37:37, the city is first distinctly mentioned as the residence of the monarch. Sennacherib was slain there, when worshipping in the temple of Nisroch, his god. Zephaniah, about [[B.C.]] 630, couples the capital and the kingdom together, &nbsp;Zephaniah 2:13, and this is the last mention of Nineveh as an existing city. </p> <p> The destruction of Nineveh occurred [[B.C.]] 606. The city was then laid waste, its monuments destroyed, and its inhabitants scattered or carried away into captivity. It never rose again from its ruins. This total disappearance of Nineveh is fully confirmed by the records of profane history. The political history of Nineveh is that of Assyria, of which a sketch has already been given. ''See '' '''Assyria''' ''.'' </p> <p> Previous to recent excavations and researches, the ruins which occupied the presumed site of Nineveh seemed to consist of mere shapeless heaps or mounds of earth and rubbish. Unlike the vast masses of brick masonry which mark the site of Babylon, they showed externally no signs of artificial construction, except, perhaps, here and there, the traces of a rude wall of sun-dried bricks. Some of these mounds were of enormous dimensions, looking, in the distance, rather like natural elevations, than the work of men's hands. They differ greatly in form, size and height. Some are mere conical heaps, varying from 50 to 150 feet high; others have a broad flat summit, and very precipitous cliff-like sites furrowed by deep ravines worn by the winter rains. </p> <p> The principal ruins are - (1) The group immediately opposite Mosul, including the great mounds of ''Kouyunjik'' and ''Nebbi Yunus'' ; </p> <p> (2) that near the junction of the Tigris and Zab comprising the mounds of ''Nimroud'' and ''Athur'' ; </p> <p> (3) ''Khorsabad'' , about ten miles to the east of the former river; </p> <p> (4) ''Shereef Khan'' , about 5 1/2 miles to the north of ''Kouyunjik'' ; and </p> <p> (5) ''Selamiyah'' , three miles to the north of ''Nimroud'' . </p> <p> '''Discoveries.''' - The first traveller who carefully examined the supposed site of Nineveh was Mr. Rich, formerly political agent for the East India [[Company]] at Bagdad, but his investigations were almost entirely confined to ''Kouyunjik'' and the surrounding mounds, of which he made a survey in 1820. In 1843 [[M.]] Botta, the French consul at Mosul, fully explored the ruins. [[M.]] Botta's discoveries at ''Khorsabad'' were followed by those of Mr. Layard at ''Nimroud'' and ''Kouyunjik'' , made between the years 1846 and 1850. </p> <p> (Since then very many and important discoveries have been made at Nineveh, more especially those by [[George]] Smith, of the British Museum. He has discovered not only the buildings, but the remains of a fine ancient library written on stone tablets. These leaves or tablets were from an inch to 1 foot square, made of terra-cotta clay, on which, when soft, the inscriptions were written; the tablets were then hardened and placed upon the walls of the library rooms, so as to cover the walls. </p> <p> This royal library contained over 10,000 tablets. It was begun by Shalmaneser, [[B.C.]] 860, his successors added to it, and Sardanapalus, [[(B.C.]] 673), almost doubled it. [[Stories]] or subjects were begun on tablets, and continued on tablets of the same size, sometimes to the number of one hundred. Some of the most interesting of these give accounts of the creation and of the deluge, and all agree with or confirm the Bible. - Editor). </p> <p> '''Description of remains.''' - The Assyrian edifices were so nearly alike in general plan, construction and decoration that one description will suffice for all. They were built upon artificial mounds or platforms, varying in height, but generally from 30 to 50 feet above the level of the surrounding country, and solidly constructed of regular layers of sun-dried bricks, as at ''Nimroud'' , or consisting merely of earth and rubbish heaped up, as at ''Kouyunjik'' . This platform was probably faced with stone masonry, remains probable which were discovered at ''Nimroud'' , and broad flights of steps or inclined ways led up to its summit. </p> <p> Although only the general plan of the ground-floor can now be traced, it is evident that the palaces had several stories built of wood and sun-dried bricks, which, when the building was deserted and allowed to fall to decay, gradually buried the lower chambers with their ruins, and protected the sculptured slabs from the effects of the weather. The depth of soil and rubbish above the alabaster slabs varied from a few inches to about 20 feet. It is to this accumulation of rubbish above them that the bas-reliefs owe their extraordinary preservation. </p> <p> The portions of the edifices still remaining, consist of halls, chambers and galleries, opening, for the most part, into large, uncovered courts. The wall above the wainscoting of alabaster was plastered, and painted with figures and ornaments. The sculptured, with the exception of the human-headed lions and bulls, were for the most part in low relief, The colossal figures usually represent the king, his attendants and the gods; the smaller sculptures, which either cover the whole face of the slab, or are divided into two compartments by bands of inscriptions, represent battles sieges, the chase, single combats with wild beasts, religious ceremonies, etc., etc. All refer to public or national events; the hunting-scenes evidently recording the prowess and personal valor of the king as the head of the people - "the mighty hunter before the Lord." </p> <p> The sculptures appear to have been painted, remains of color having been found on most of them. Thus decorated without and within, the Assyrian palaces must have displayed a barbaric magnificence, not, however, devoid of a certain grandeur and beauty, which probably no ancient or modern edifice has exceeded. These great edifices, the depositories of the national records, appear to have been at the same time, the abode of the king, and the temple of the gods. </p> <p> '''Prophecies relating to Nineveh, and illustrations of the Old Testament.''' These are exclusively contained in the books of Nahum and Zephaniah. Nahum threatens the entire destruction of the city, so that it shall not rise again from its ruins. The city was to be partly destroyed by fire. &nbsp;Nahum 3:13; &nbsp;Nahum 3:16. The gateway in the northern wall of the ''Kouyunjik'' enclosure had been destroyed by fire as well as the palaces. The population was to be surprised when unprepared: "while they are drunk as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry." &nbsp;Nahum 1:10. Diodorus states that the last and fatal assault was made when they were overcome with wine. The captivity of the inhabitants and their removal to distant provinces are predicted. &nbsp;Nahum 3:18. The fullest and the most vivid and poetical picture of Nineveh's ruined and deserted condition is that given by Zephaniah, who probably lived to see its fall. &nbsp;Zephaniah 2:13-15. </p> <p> '''Site of the city.''' - Much diversity of opinion exists as to the identification of the ruins, which may be properly included within the site of ancient Nineveh. According to Sir [[H.]] Rawlinson and those who concur in his interpretation of the cuneiform characters, each group of mounds already mentioned represents a separate and distinct city. </p> <p> On the other hand, it has been conjectured, with much probability, that these groups of mounds are not ruins of separate cities, but of fortified royal residences, each combining palaces, temples, propylaea, gardens and parks, and having its peculiar name, and that they all formed as part of one great city, built and added to at different periods, and consisting of distinct quarters scattered over a very large, and frequently very distant, one from the other. Thus the city would be, as Layard says, in the form of a parallelogram 18 to 20 miles long by 12 to 14 wide, or, as Diodorus Siculus says, 55 miles in circumference. </p> <p> '''Writing and language.''' - The ruins of Nineveh have furnished a vast collection of inscriptions, partly carved on marble or stone slabs, and partly impressed upon bricks and upon clay cylinders, or sixsided and eight-sided prisms, barrels and tablets, which, used for the purpose when still moist, were afterward, baked in a furnace or kiln. Compare &nbsp;Ezekiel 4:4. The character employed was the arrow-headed or cuneiform - so called from each letter being formed by marks or elements resembling an arrow-head or a wedge. </p> <p> These inscribed bricks are of the greatest value in restoring the royal dynasties. The most important inscription, hitherto, discovered in connection with biblical history, is that upon a pair of colossal human-headed bulls from ''Kouyunjik'' , now in the British Museum, containing the records of Sennacherib, and describing, among other events, his wars with Hezekiah. It is accompanied by a series of bas-reliefs believed to represent the siege and capture of Lachish. </p> <p> [[A]] list of nineteen or twenty kings can already be compiled, and the annals of the greater number of them will probably be restored to the lost history, of one of the most powerful empires of the ancient world, and of one which appears to have exercised, perhaps, greater influence than any other, upon the subsequent condition and development of civilized man. The people of Nineveh spoke a Shemitic dialect, connected with the Hebrew, and with the so called Chaldee of the books of Daniel and Ezra. This agrees with the testimony of the Old Testament. </p>

<p> '''Nineveh''' (''nîn'e-veh'' ), perhaps ''dwelling of Nina,'' the capital and greatest city of Assyria. It was founded by Nimrod, &nbsp;Genesis 10:11, and was on the eastern bank of the river Tigris, about 250 miles in a direct lino north of the rival city of Babylon, and not far from 550 miles northwest of the Persian Gulf. Assyrian scholars are not agreed in respect to the size of this ancient city. Some, as Layard, regard it as covering a large parallelogram, whose sides were each from 18 to 20 miles long, and the ends 12 to 14 miles wide. This view would include the ruins now known as Konyunjik, Nimrud, Khorsabad, and Keremles. Diodorus Siculus makes the circumference of the city 55 miles, including pastures and pleasure grounds. This view of the great extent of the city is, on the other hand, sharply disputed by Rawlinson, who thinks it highly improbable that this ancient city should have had an area about ten times that of London. He would reject it on two grounds, the one historical and the other topographical. He maintains that the ruins of Khorsabad, Keremles, Nimrud, and Konyunjik bear on their bricks distinct local titles, and that these titles are found attaching to distant cities in the historical inscriptions. According to his view, Nimrud would be identified with Calah, and Khorsabad with Dur-sargina, or "the city of Sargon." He further claims that Assyrian writers do not consider these places to be parts of Nineveh, but distinct and separate cities; that Calah was for a longtime the capital, while Nineveh was a provincial town; that Dur-sargina was built by Sargon—not at Nineveh, but near Nineveh; and that Scripture similarly distinguishes Calah as a place separate from Nineveh, and so far from it that there was room for a great city between them. See &nbsp;Genesis 10:12. He also suggests that a smaller city in extent would answer the requirements of the description in the book of Jonah, which makes it a city of "three days' journey." &nbsp;Jonah 3:3. As already stated, Nineveh was founded by Asshur, or, as the marginal reading of &nbsp;Genesis 10:11 states, Nimrod. When Nineveh became the capital of Assyria is not definitely known, but it is generally believed it was during the reign of Sennacherib. The prophecies of the books of Jonah and Nahum are chiefly directed against this city. The latter prophet indicates the mode of its capture. Nan. 1:1-8; 2:6, 8; 3:18. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria during the height of the grandeur of that empire, and in the time of Sennacherib, Esar-haddon, and Assur-bani-pal. It was besieged for two years by the combined forces of the Medes and Babylonians, was captured, and finally destroyed b.c. 606. Excavations have been made by [[M.]] Botta, Layard, Hormuzd Rassam, Loftus, and George Smith. They have brought to light, among others, the following noted buildings: 1. Three ruined temples, built and restored by many kings in different ages. 2. The palace of Shalmaneser, as improved by subsequent rulers. 3. [[A]] palace of another ruler, restored by Sennacherib and Esar-haddon. 4. [[A]] palace of Tiglath-pileser [[Ii.]] 5. [[A]] temple of Nebo. 6. The southwest palace ''of'' Sennacherib. 7. The northwest palace of the same ruler. 8. The city walls built by the latter king and restored by Assur-bani-pal. See Assyria. The prophecies respecting the destruction of Nineveh are very specific; the prophet seemed to see her in her desolation and exclaims: "Nineveh hath been from of old like a pool of water... Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her?... Thy worthies are at rest; thy people are scattered upon the mountains, and there is none to gather them." &nbsp;Nahum 2:8; &nbsp;Nahum 3:7; &nbsp;Nahum 3:18, [[R.]] [[V.]] "The Lord... will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like the wilderness. And herds shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations; both the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in the chapiters thereof; ''their'' voice shall ring in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds... how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in!" &nbsp;Zephaniah 2:11; &nbsp;Zephaniah 2:13-15. These prophecies have been literally fulfilled. The city was destroyed; its very site was lost and unknown for centuries; it has now been found, its ruins opened, but are uninhabited except by wild beasts. </p>