RESTORATION OF THE MASHKI GATE OF ANCIENT NINEVEH:

Ancient Assyrian Nineveh reconstructed, Mosul, Iraq. Internet photograph, public domain.

In an act of wanton destruction reminiscent of the Afghanistan Taliban’s dynamiting of the world’s two largest statues of the Buddha in March 2001, ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) blew up parts of the remains of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh in 2014 including the reputed Tomb of Jonah and the city gateway known as the Mashki Gate.

Destruction of the Mashki Gate by ISIS, Mosul, Iraq. Internet photograph, public domain.

Destruction of the Mashki Gate by ISIS, Mosul, Iraq. Internet photograph, public domain.

Now, while this is not a traditional example of rock art by any means, it is about something that is very artistic with a great deal of age on it, carved in stone, and besides, I have always been fascinated by Assyrian art which was incredibly sophisticated for such an early period.

The site of Nineveh was continuously occupied beginning in the Neolithic period (6000 BC). Historic Nineveh was first recorded about 1800 BC. In 1365 BC the Assyrian king Ashur-ubalit created the Middle Assyrian empire. Monarchs built extensively in Nineveh during the late 3^rd and 2^nd millennia BC. From the time of Ashurnasirpal II (883-859BC) there was considerable architectural expansion. Sennacherib (700 BC) made Nineveh a truly magnificent city and built a huge palace. (Wikipedia)

“At this time, the total area of Nineveh comprised about 7 square kilometers (1,730 acres), and fifteen great gates penetrated its walls. An elaborate system of eighteen canals brought water from the hills to Nineveh. – The enclosed area had more than 100,000 inhabitants (maybe closer to 150,000), about twice as many as Babylon at the time, placing it among the largest settlements worldwide.” (Wikipedia)

Archaeologist cleaning newly discovered panel. Internet photograph, public domain.

“Ancient Nineveh, on the outskirts of modern Mosul, was an ancient center of trade and religion on the Tigris River. It served as the capital of the powerful Assyrian Empire, which had writing systems and powerful regional control.” (Muzdakis 2022)

“Mashki Gate: Translated ‘Gate of the Water Carriers’, also Masqi Gate (Arabic), it was perhaps used to take livestock to water from the Tigris which currently flows about 1.5 kilimeters (0.9 mi) to the west. It has been reconstructed in fortified mudbrick to the height of the top of the vaulted passageway. The Assyrian original may have been plastered and ornamented. It was bulldozed along with the Adad Gate during ISIL occupation. During the restoration project, seven alabaster carvings depicting Sennacherib reliefs were found at the gate in 2022.” (Wikipedia)

Archaeologist cleaning newly discovered panel. Internet photograph, public domain.

In April 2016 ISIS militants destroyed sections of Nineveh by bulldozing. Although their public statements about that gave as a reason that these remaining and rebuilt structures were anti-Islamic, they also were very diligent at looting to raise money for their campaigns by selling artifacts. Purportedly, the bulldozing exposed tunnels that the ISIS looters searched for those artifacts. Hundreds were also stolen from the Mosul Museum Assyrian exhibit to sell, as well as to purify it for Islam. (Wikipedia)

Archaeologist cleaning newly discovered panel. Internet photograph, public domain.

“A team of American and Iraqi archaeologists discovered eight marble slabs while working to restore the Mashki Gate, a structure that was once and entrance to the city of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Researchers were able to date the carvings to the reign of King Sennacherib, who was in power from 705-681 B.C.E. The reliefs, which are in remarkably good condition, feature intricately carved grape vines, warriors with bows and arrows and palm trees. Officials announced that the discoveries will eventually become part of a new archaeological park.” (Enking 2022)

                                               

Assyrian archers, newly discovered panel. Internet photograph, public domain.

Fadel Mohammed Khodr, head of the Iraqi archaeological team “said that when the marble slabs were positioned at the gate, they were partly buried. The sections underground were preserved and bear the carvings seen today; whatever was above-ground was wiped smooth over the centuries.” (Wertheimer 2022)

So, we have a report that says seven alabaster carvings (Wikipedia), and another report that says eight marble slabs (Enking 2022). I cannot account for the differing numbers, but let us look more closely at the materials.

Mountain and foliage, newly discovered panel. Internet photograph, public domain.

“Calcite alabaster, harder than the gypsum variety, was the kind primarily used in ancient Egypt and the wider Middle East (but not Assyrian palace reliefs), and is also used in modern times. It is found as either a stalagmitic deposit from the floor and walls of limestone caverns, or as kind of travertine, similarly deposited in springs of calcareous water.” (Wikipedia) This may be meant to imply that the Assyrians carved with gypsum alabaster. “Chemically gypsum is a hydrous sulfate of calcium, while calcite is a carbonate of calcium.” (Wikipedia) On the other hand “marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the term marble refers to metamorphosed limestone.” (Wikipedia) While this does not clarify the discrepancy we do know that marble and both forms of alabaster are relatively soft rock and so easily carved.

I think that what has always appealed to me about Assyrian reliefs are the beautiful details they executed. In any case, it is a pleasure to report that the destruction wrought by ISIS has been pretty much repaired by restorers, and that, in fact, the terrorists unintentionally gave us more beautiful examples of Assyrian carving.

NOTE 1: ISIS and ISIL are acronyms for the same group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). 

NOTE 2: Some images in this posting were retrieved from the internet with a search for public domain photographs. If any of these images are not intended to be public domain, I apologize, and will happily provide the picture credits if the owner will contact me with them. For further information on these reports you should read the original reports at the sites listed below.

 

REFERENCES:

Enking, Molly, 2022, Archaeologists Unearth 2,700-Year-Old Stone Carvings in Northern Iraq, 24 October 2022, Smithsonian Magazine online, https://www.smithsonianmag.com. Accessed 24 October 2022.

Muzdakis, Madeleine, 2022, Archeologists Discover 2,700-Year-Old Stone Carvings in Iraq While Restoring the Mashki Gate, 28 October 2022, https://mymodernmet.com/assyrian-carvings-mashki-gate/. Accessed 28 October 2022.

Wrtheimer, Tiffany, 2022, Mashki Gate: Stunning ancient rock carvings found in Iraq, 19 October 2022, https://mews.yahoo.com. Accessed 19 October 2022.

Wikipedia, Alabaster, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabaster. Accessed 28 November 2022.

Wikipedia, Marble, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble. Accessed 28 November 2022.

Wikipedia, Nineveh, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineveh. Accessed 20 October 2022.

HISTORICAL INSCRIPTIONS AT THE TOMB OF A BIBLICAL PROPHET:

Esarhaddon inscription, Tomb of

Jonah, Nineveh, Iraq. Photograph

Live Science, Public Domain.

Explorations on the outskirts of Mosul, Iraq, in the ruins of The Tomb of Jonah, an ancient shrine that was blown up by ISIS (the so-called Islamic State) on July 24, 2014, in the ancient Iraqi city of Nineveh, revealed seven inscriptions that describe the rule of Assyrian king Esarhaddon. (Jarus 2018)

"Jonah, known as Yunus in the Koran, is a religious figure in Abrahamic religions most famous for the story of being swallowed by a 'giant fish,' or possibly a whale. The text says that he preached in the city of Nineveh, which was the capital of the ancient Assyrian empire" (Hugo 2018)

Mosque of the Prophet Yunus.

Photograph Voice of America,

Public domain.

When Iraqi forces reoccupied the ruins they discovered that ISIS had been tunneling beneath the mosque, presumably for artifacts that could be sold on the black market, one of their sources of income. The mosque, and the Tomb of Jonah, had been blown up by ISIS as one act in their campaign to eradicate what they perceive as idolatry and heresy.

Tunnels beneath the Mosque

of the Prophet Yunus.

Public domain.

Tunnels beneath the Mosque

of the Prophet Yunus.

Public domain.

"The seven inscriptions were discovered in four tunnels beneath the biblical prophet's tomb, which is a shrine that's sacred to both Christians and Muslims." (Jarus 2018)

"One inscription, in translation, reads: 'The palace of Esarhaddon, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the kings of lower Egypt, upper Egypt and Kush.'" (Jarus 2018)

An inscription which was engraved on the back of a fallen Lamassu (a deity with a human head and the body of a bull or lion) reads in translation: "The palace of Ashurbanipal, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, descendant of Sennacherib, king of Assyria." (Jarus 2018)

Stele of Esarhaddon,

Public Domain.

"Another inscription found under the Tomb of Jonah says that Esarhaddon 'reconstructed the temple of the god Assur (the chief god of the Assyrians),' rebuilt the ancient cities of Babylon and Esagil, and 'renewed the statues of the great gods.' The inscriptions also tell of Esarhaddon's family history, saying that he is the son of Sennacherib (reign 704-681 B.C.) and a descendent of Sargon II (reign 721-705 B.C.), who was also 'king of the world, king of Assyria.'" (Jarus 2018)

Sennacherib is known to biblical scholars  because in the Christian bible the Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 32, describes how the Assyrian King Sennacherib invaded Judah.

So, while the destruction of historically significant cultural properties should be lamented by all civilized humans, the resulting discovery has added to our knowledge of the early history of the Middle East, and that, at least, is a good thing.

NOTE: Images in this posting were retrieved from the internet with a search for public domain photographs. If any of these images are not intended to be public domain, I apologize, and will happily provide the picture credits if the owner will contact me with them. For further information on these reports you should read the originals at the sites listed below.

REFERENCES:

Hugo, Kristin

2018 Ancient Tomb of Biblical Prophet Discovered in Iraq Contain Engravings Describing Brutal Assyrian Ruler, February 21, 2018, Newsweek, https://www.yahoo.com/news/ancient-tomb-biblical-prophet-discovered-170054149.html

Jarus, Owen

2018 Beneath Biblical Prophet's Tomb, an Archaeological Surprise, Live Science, Feb. 18, 2018, https://www.livescience.com/61798-biblical-prophet-tomb-iraq.html#?utm_source=ls-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=02-21-ls