Athar Alrafedain

Abstract

Excavation works indicate that Ninavah's history dates back to early periods beyond the fifth thousand B.C. according to the indicators of the pottery study which was discovered in it.
It had been dwelled in since that date and continued through the next periods. The city's name "Ninavah" was mentioned in the cuneiform texts from early periods beyond the third thousand B.C.. The use of this designation continued in the early dynasty of Sumerian, Akkadian ages which followed by the third Dynasty of period. Although, Assyrians didn't take Ninavah as a capital for them throughout one thousand year after they settled in Assyrian country at the beginning of the second thousand B.C., then took it as a capital in the latest second thousand B.C.. This research showed some indicators which reflect that this city had the kings concern, first of all the Akkadians and the kings of the third Ur ancestry, and then the Babylonians.
This concern continued and Ninavah's city had been paid a large attention by the Assyrians kings during the old and middle Assyrian period (2000-911) B.C.. According to what was reported from the royal annuals, this concern represented in building temples, walls, ziggurates and palaces.
In addition, it had been paid attention economically. At that time, the city had become an important commercial center.