The capital of the Assyrian empire, the brutal superpower that destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel. Jonah was sent to preach repentance to this enemy city; Nahum predicted its fall.
Assyria (upper Mesopotamia)
Northern Iraq
Assyria was the first truly ruthless empire of the age, famed for siege warfare and mass deportation. It destroyed Samaria and the northern kingdom in 722 BCE. Nineveh's repentance under Jonah's preaching is one of the Bible's most surprising stories, even the hated enemy could turn to God.
Nineveh lay on the Tigris, about 500 miles northeast of Israel, far beyond the horizon of most Israelites' world.