The City of Nimrud

Nimrud (ancient Kalhu) is situated at the confluence of the Upper Zab and Tigris Rivers in the north of modern Iraq. Although it had been an administrative center in the Middle Assyrian period (ca. 1300-1000 BC), it was Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 BC) who moved the capital of Assyria from Assur to Kalhu (Calah in the Old Testament). Nearly every king after Ashurnasirpal II undertook construction projects at Nimrud, which remained the capital of Assyria for over 150 years until Sargon II (721-705 BC) moved his royal residence to Dur-Sharrukin.

In the Northwest is the royal palace, on the south-eastern side of the city lay the royal arsenal, known today as Fort Shalmaneser.

The Northwest Palace

"I, Ashurnasirpal, the king whose glory is mighty, took Kalhu and changed its ancient mound.... A palace of boxwood, mulberry, cedar, cypress, pistachio, tamarisk, and poplar...for my royal dwelling and for my lordly pleasure I founded therein, I adorned and made glorious."

The citadel of Nimrud was contained within the massive city wall, which had a circuit of five miles and enclosed approximately nine hundred acres. Ashurnasirpal II built his palace in the Northwest section of the citadel and it covered an immense area more than 650 feet long and 425 feet wide. The northern administrative area of the palace enclosed a massive courtyard. On the south side of this large northern courtyard was the imposing entrance to the elaborately decorated throne room. South of the throne room, another group of official rooms enclosed courtyard Y. Southeast of courtyard Y was the royal family’s domestic quarter, beneath which archaeologists have excavated the rich tombs of powerful royal women.