North

It is believed that the area around what is today Mosul has been continuously populated for 8000 years. Mosul was originally built atop the ancient city of Nimrud on the right bank of the river Tigris. It was preceded on the left bank by Nineveh dating back to at least 1800 BC. The excavation of the ruins of Ninevah uncovered large Assyrian statues guarding the city gates.  The mound Nabī Yūnus or "Prophet Jonah" is crowned by a shrine dedicated to the prophet who, legend has it, is buried there. The city also features a number of Christian churches and monasteries , one of which  is the St Georges monastery. Mosul is Iraq's second largest city.