Originally the capital of the Assyrian King Assurbanipal, this town was founded in about 3000 BC and named after a national god, Ashur. The town may need divine intervention to survive past 2007, however, when a hydroelectric dam project is scheduled to flood the area around the ancient city.
For the moment, sights include the ziggurat (a pyramid-shaped temple), the grounds around the ziggurat, the restored Arab Palace, the remains of the city walls, the Akitu Temple, and the Anu (sky god) and Adad (storm god) towers. Some of Assur's most interesting pieces (such as the Winged Bull and the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser, or Jehu Stela) are now in the British Museum.
7 mi/10 km south of Mosul and 205 mi/330 km northwest of Baghdad.