Geographic Location
Nineveh is one of the four provinces located in northern Iraq. It borders Turkey to the north and Syria to the west. The provincial capital is Mosul, which is currently the second-largest city in Iraq.
Mosul lies on the right bank of the Tigris River, directly across from the historic Assyrian city of Nineveh. The city developed as a result of the merging of several small ancient settlements.
By the 12th century, Mosul had become the most important city in northern Iraq, a status it retained until 1258, when it was invaded and destroyed by the Mongols under Hulagu.
From then until 1508, there was no significant local authority. It was briefly occupied by the Persians, and then came under Ottoman rule in 1638, which lasted for nearly four centuries.
During the Ottoman period, Mosul became an important commercial center, but lost much of its significance after World War I, due to being separated from neighboring countries.
Population
The majority of Mosul’s population is composed of Muslim Arabs. There is also a Christian minority, mainly from the following denominations:
Syriac Orthodox (also known as Jacobites)
Chaldeans (the largest Christian group in the region)
Some members of the Nestorian Church
In the villages surrounding Mosul, there are also entirely Christian communities.
Among the suburbs of Mosul is Nabi Yunus (Prophet Jonah), which is inhabited by Turkmen, who still preserve their language to this day.
Historical Overview
Historically, Mosul held great importance, as noted by the renowned Arab geographer Yaqut al-Hamawi, who wrote:
“Mosul was the gateway to Iraq, the key to Khorasan, the road to Azerbaijan, and a great city built on the Tigris River.”
The Armenian Community in Mosul
Accounts from Foreign Travelers:
This historic city in northern Iraq has been visited by numerous foreign travelers and tourists over the centuries.
Some of the key reasons for their visits included:
The proximity of the ancient city of Nineveh
The presence of the main Dominican monastery, which served as an important religious center in later centuries
At one point in history, Mosul was also the seat of the Papal Embassy in Iraq
