capital of ancient Assyria, on the Tigris: ruins opposite modern Mosul in N Iraq
See Nineveh in American Heritage Dictionary 4
An ancient city of Assyria on the Tigris River opposite the site of present-day Mosul, Iraq. As capital of the Assyrian Empire, it enjoyed great influence and prosperity, especially under Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal (seventh century B.C.). The city was captured and destroyed by Babylonia and its allies in 612 B.C.