Calah
“Vigorous old age, or possibly Holy Gate from Sumerian”
Summary
One of the most ancient cities of Assyria, founded according to Genesis 10:11 in the early post-flood period.
☩Biblical Foundation
Calah is named among the most ancient cities of Assyria in Genesis 10:11-12. The passage attributes its founding either to Asshur or, more likely if the margin reading is followed, to Nimrod who 'went forth to Assyria' and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, and Resen. These four cities together formed one great composite metropolitan area, with Nineveh's name eventually applied to the whole. The city lay between Nineveh and Resen, forming part of what was called 'a great city.'
☩Archaeological Identification
Modern scholarship generally identifies Calah with the extensive ruins at Nimrud, situated on the roughly triangular tract formed by the junction of the Greater Zab with the Tigris. The main ruins stand on a large rectangular platform measuring approximately 700 by 400 yards. The most prominent structure was the great temple-tower (ziqqurat) at the northwest corner, a step-pyramid of brick faced with stone, rising about 126 feet with a sanctuary at the top. This site has furnished a large proportion of the Assyrian antiquities now preserved in major museums.
☩Royal Capital
Assyrian king Assur-nacir-apli (circa 885 B.C.) rebuilt Calah after it had fallen into ruin, and it became the effective capital of the empire. The warlike Sardanapalus and his successors resided here until Sargon built a new capital at Khorsabad. Esarhaddon later built one of the grandest Assyrian palaces at Calah. The palace of Assur-nacir-apli featured chambers paneled with sculptured slabs and doorways flanked by carved winged, human-headed lions and bulls. The district called Calachene or Kalacene took its name from this ancient city.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Calah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Calah," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Calah," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.James Orr (ed.), "Calah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 5.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Calah," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).