Nimrud: The Ancient Assyrian City

The transformation of a modest Iron Age settlement into the glittering capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire began with the vision and ambition of Ashurnasirpal II, who ascended to the Assyrian throne in 883 BCE with dreams of expanding his kingdom far beyond its traditional heartland in northern Mesopotamia. The choice of Kalhu as his new capital reflected both strategic considerations and symbolic aspirations that would define Assyrian imperial ideology for the next three centuries. Located approximately 35 kilometers south of the traditional Assyrian capital at Ashur, Kalhu occupied a commanding position on the east bank of the Tigris River that provided access to river transportation while offering defensive advantages against potential enemies.