Iraq is the country home to Ashur, the original capital of the Assyrian Empire.
Ashur, also spelled Aššur or Assur, was an ancient city on the west bank of the Tigris River in northern Iraq. It gave its name both to the Assyrian people and to their national god. The city began as an important urban center in the third millennium BCE and became the ceremonial and political heart of Assyria.
Ashur served as the empire’s capital before power shifted to cities such as Kalhu, now Nimrud, and Nineveh. Its ruins include temples, palaces, fortifications, and royal tombs. The city’s position along river and overland routes helped Assyria participate in long-distance trade.
Ashur is often confused with Nineveh because both were major Assyrian cities in modern Iraq. Nineveh became the later imperial capital, whereas Ashur was the earlier namesake and religious center. UNESCO placed Ashur on its World Heritage List in 2003 and on the List of World Heritage in Danger the same year.