Ancient City of Ashur

　　The ancient city of Ashur is situated on a special stretch of the Tigris River in northern Mesopotamia, at the junction between rain-fed agriculture and artificially irrigated agriculture. Its history dates back to 3000 BCE. In 2003, the Ancient City of Ashur was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and simultaneously added to the List of World Heritage in Danger.

　　From the 14th century BCE 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 western and northern sides. The walls, approximately 4 kilometers in length, consist of inner and outer layers, with eight identified city gates. 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 eastern and northern sides, there are brick and stone embankments to protect 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 document the architectural prosperity of the Assyrian Empire from the Sumerian period to the Akkadian period. The ruins also include buildings from the brief revival of Ashur during the Parthian era.