What is…
Calah
also known as: Kalḫu, Kalhu, Kalakh, and Nimrud
This was an idolatrous place and one of the most ancient cities of Assyria.
“Out of that land he [i.e., Nimrod] went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah, and Resen.” —Genesis 10:11 RKJV
Its site is now marked by the Nimrud ruins on the left bank of the Tigris River. These cover an area of about 1,000 acres, and are second only in size and importance to the mass of ruins opposite Mosul.
Numerous impressive archaeological finds have been discovered here. Many are displayed at the British Museum.
This city was at one time the capital of the Assyrian empire, and was the residence of Sardanapalus and his successors down to the time of Sargon, who built a new capital, the modern Khorsabad.
It has been conjectured that these four cities mentioned in Genesis 10:11 were afterwards all united into one and called Nineveh.
More information
- IRAQ—What is the significance of Iraq in the Bible? Answer
- Who is Nimrod? Was he godly or evil?
- What is Assyria?
- What is Nineveh?
- About idolatry and false gods in the Bible
Learn about Bible archaeology