An official of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Mosul, Iraq, told IraqiNews.com, “ISIS militants blew up today large parts and expanses of the archaeological wall of Nineveh in al-Tahrir neighborhood” (“ISIS destroys large parts of Nineveh historical wall,” Archaeology News Network, Feb. 2, 2015). It was possibly the walls and gates that have been reconstructed on original foundations that were blown up by the Islamic State. Nineveh was founded in the 23rd century BC during the era of the Tower of Babel by Asshur, a confederate with Nimrod, and about 1,500 years later it was glorified by Sennacherib, king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. In his day, Nineveh’s massive outer walls were about 7.5 miles long, 50 feet high, 50 feet thick, and pierced by 15 great fortified gates. Water was brought from up to 40 miles away by an aqueduct and a series of canals to irrigate beautiful parks, gardens, and fountains. Sennacherib built an extravagant 71-room “palace without rival” filled with amazing statues and with walls lined with carved stone depicting hunting and military scenes. It was Sennacherib who, after mocking Jehovah God and threatening Israel’s king Hezekiah, woke up one morning to find that his army had been slain by the angel of the Lord. He went back to his palace and died at the hands of his own sons while worshiping his god in 681 BC. In 612 BC, Nineveh was destroyed by an alliance of armies led by Nabopolassar of Babylon, father of Nebuchadnezzar. During excavations by the famous British archaeologist Henry Layard in the mid-19th century, many artifacts were excavated from Sennacherib’s palace and transported to the British Museum, where they can be seen today. For more about the fascinating ancient kingdoms, see Bible Times & Ancient Kingdoms, available from www.wayoflife.org. (Friday Church News Notes, February 6, 2015, www.wayoflife.org, [email protected], 866-295-4143) Comments are closed.
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