Ziggurat of Nimrud — ziggurat
Kalhu · Nimrud, Iraq · Neo-Assyrian period, 9th–8th centuries BCE (Ashurnasirpal II, 883–859; Shalmaneser III, 858–824)
The capital of Ashurnasirpal II. The ziggurat flanked the North-West Palace. In 2015 the upper parts of the complex were destroyed; archaeology is still reconstructing its plan.
Dossier
- Type: Assyrian
- Ancient city: Kalhu
- Modern location: Nimrud, Iraq
- Deity: Ninurta / Ashur
- Dating: Neo-Assyrian period, 9th–8th centuries BCE (Ashurnasirpal II, 883–859; Shalmaneser III, 858–824)
- Builders: The complex was founded by Ashurnasirpal II; an inscribed brick indicates that the ziggurat was built or completed under Shalmaneser III
- Material: a core of mud brick (unbaked) on a stone foundation and a mud-brick terrace; the lower part is a stone facing with niches and half-columns, above which baked brick was used
- Plan: an almost square base of c. 60×60 m; the tower adjoined the Temple of Ninurta in the north-western part of the citadel, next to the North-West Palace
- Base: 60 × 60 m
- Height (originally): about 60 m
- Height (surviving): about 43 m
What matters
The ziggurat of the god Ninurta stood on the citadel of Kalhu (Nimrud), north of the North-West Palace of Ashurnasirpal II; on the evidence of an inscribed brick its construction is attributed to Shalmaneser III. The base is almost square, c. 60×60 m. The upper tiers have not survived, and in 2016 the ancient ruins, c. 43 m high, were destroyed.