Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta

Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta (“Strong Tukulti-Ninurta”), is a city of the ancient Assyrie. Its ruins are on the current site of Tulûl al' Aqar, to 3 km in the north of Assur, on Right Bank of the Tigre.

As its name indicates it, this city was rested by the king Tukulti-Ninurta Ier, who reigned of 1244 with 1208 av. J. - C. This sovereign thus inaugurates the tradition of the built royal capitals, that will follow later Assurnasirpal II (with Kalkhu), Sargon II (Hard-Sharrukin) then Sennacherib (Ninive).

Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta was defended by a quadrilateral enclosure of form, which constitutes almost a square of approximately 700 meters on side. The west coast of the wall skirted bank of the Tiger. In the North-West of the site, a royal palace had been built. The principal temple of the city was located at the center, and it was dedicated to the god Assur. A Ziggourat of 31 side meters overhung it. Other smaller temples had been built in the city. The surrounding countryside had been development thanks to the construction of an irrigation canal on the basis of the Tiger.

This construction, did not have the posterity wanted by its creator, who undoubtedly intended it to become the capital Assyrie. Tukulti-Ninurta Ier died some time after construction of this city, assassinated by revolt initiated by its son Assur-Nadin-Apli (in the release of which its will to change capital perhaps played a part), in its own palate of Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta. This city was not completed, and did not have whereas a minor importance.

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