Ancient City of Ashur

Ancient City of Ashur

The Ancient City of Ashur is located on a special stretch of the Tigris River in northern Mesopotamia, at the boundary between rain-fed and irrigated agriculture. Its history dates back to 3000 BCE. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003 and also added to the "List of World Heritage in Danger."

From the 14th to the 9th century BCE, the Ancient City of Ashur served as the first capital of the Assyrian Empire and was an important hub for international cultural and trade exchanges. The city was also the religious capital of the empire, closely associated with the god Ashur. The urban layout of Ashur forms a triangle, with walls on the west and north sides. The walls, approximately 4 kilometers long, consist of inner and outer layers, and eight city gates have been identified. The inner wall is 7 meters thick, and the gates are adorned with colored glazed bricks. Outside the outer wall lies a moat about 20 meters wide, which connects to the Tigris River at both ends. On the east and north sides, brick and stone embankments were built to guard against flooding. Most of the city's buildings are located in the northern part. The excavated public facilities and residential structures of the Ancient City of Ashur reflect the architectural prosperity of the Assyrian Empire from the Sumerian to the Akkadian periods. The ruins also include structures from the brief Parthian-era revival of the city.