Aššur

Aššur, also known as Ashur and Qal'at Sherqat, was the capital of the Middle Assyrian Empire for a time [1]. The remains of the city lie on the western bank of the Tigris River, north of the confluence with its tributary, the Little Zab, in what is now Iraq [1]. Occupation of the city itself continued for approximately 3,000 years, from the Early Dynastic Period to the mid-3rd century AD, when the city was sacked by the Sasanian Empire, after which it was sparsely populated until the massacres of Assyrian Christians conducted by Tamurlane in the 14th century AD after which the remaining population relocated to the countryside [1]. The city lies on a south facing mountain spur with a triangular layout [1]. The northern, higher, area held public buildings including the palace and temples of Ashur, Anu, Adad, Sin, Shamash, and Ishtar [1]. Temples to the moon god Sin and the sun god Shamash were built and dedicated through the 15th century BC [1]. Tukulti-Ninurta I (1244–1208 BC) also constructed a new temple to the goddess Ishtar in the location of the original temple [1].