Mosul

Lore & Background

Mosul is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate and the second largest city in the country after Baghdad. It is situated on the banks of the Tigris River, with the metropolitan area having grown from the old city on the western side to encompass substantial areas on both the "Left Bank" (east side) and the "Right Bank" (west side). On the city's eastern side lie the ruins of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh, once the largest city in the world. The surrounding region is ethnically and religiously diverse; a large majority of the city's population is Arab, with Kurds, Assyrians, Turkmens, Shabaks, and other minorities present. Sunni Islam is the largest religion, but there are sizeable numbers of Christians, Yazidis, and adherents of other Muslim sects such as Twelver Shi'ism and Shabakism, and in the past, Iraqi Jews. Historically, essential products of the area included marble and oil, and the region around Mosul is rich in oil reserves. The city is home to the University of Mosul and its renowned Medical College, one of the Middle East's largest educational and research centers, as well as historic mosques, Christian sites, synagogues, and Yazidi temples. The North Mesopotamian Arabic spoken in Mosul is known as Maslawi and is widely spoken in the region. Due to its strategic and central location, the city has traditionally served as a hub of international commerce and travel. It is considered one of the historically and culturally significant cities of the Arab world, and together with the Nineveh Plains, it is a historical center of the Assyrians.

Reader's Guide

Mosul's significance stems from its long history as a strategic commercial and cultural crossroads on the Tigris, linking Assyria and Anatolia. It is the site of the ruins of Nineveh, the ancient Assyrian capital that was once the world's largest city and home to the Library of Ashurbanipal. The city's metropolitan area has grown from the old western side to encompass both banks of the Tigris. The region is ethnically and religiously diverse, with Arabs forming a large majority alongside Kurds, Assyrians, Turkmens, Shabaks, and others. Sunni Islam is the largest religion, with sizeable Christian and Yazidi populations. Mosul is home to the University of Mosul and its renowned Medical College, one of the Middle East's largest educational and research centers. Historically, essential products included marble and oil, and the surrounding region is rich in oil reserves. The city contains historic mosques, Christian sites, synagogues, and Yazidi temples. Its legacy includes its role as a center of Assyrian culture and its nickname 'the Pearl of the North.'

Did You Know?

• The name Mosul (Mawsil) means 'linking point' or 'Junction City' in Arabic.
• Assyrians still call the entire city Nineveh (or Ninweh).
• The mound of Kuyunjik in Mosul is the site of the palaces of King Sennacherib and his successors.
• Mosul is nicknamed 'the city of a million soldiers.'