Mosul is one of Iraq’s largest cities, rich in history and culture. Its name in Arabic means ‘the linking point’. For millennia, this strategic crossing on the Tigris River has connected north to south, east to west. Here, in antiquity, Assyrians co-existed with Romans, as did Jews and Persians in Nineveh, on the east bank of the river. Later, Christians met Muslims and Ottomans exchanged with Arabs in the once-new Old City built on the west bank. Mosul has witnessed its share of conflicts, from intellectual debates to military engagements, but also long periods of peace and harmony. It has experienced political independence, economic prosperity, and intellectual leadership, as well as periods of occupation and oppression.
Mosul’s extraordinary history is written into the fabric of the Old City. Many of its mosques, shrines and Muslim burial sites date back to the twelfth century, when Mosul was the Zangid dynasty’s glorious capital, renowned for its exquisite metalwork, miniature paintings and silk carpets. Numerous churches and monasteries attest to its vitality as a Christian centre of worship and learning since at least the fourth century AD. To this day, the city and its region are imbued with the great diversity of their populations, home to Arab communities as well as to Assyrians, Armenians, Turkmens, Kurds, Yezidis, Shabaks, Sabean Mandaeans and others. Diversity is central to the identity of Mosul, and this spirit deserves to be promoted across all of Iraq.
Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Hadba minaret
The Great Al-Nouri Mosque was originally built in the late twelfth century and is famous around the world for its iconic leaning minaret, al-Hadba, meaning ‘the hunchback’. The cylindrical minaret stood 45 metres high, with seven bands of decorative brickwork in complex geometric patterns sharing similarities with other monuments across Central Asia. It was a prominent landmark of the Old City of Mosul, and the emblem of the city, until it was destroyed in 2017. View of the minaret before destruction.
The Dominican Church, popularly known as Al-Sa’a Church (Church of the Clock)
Al-Sa’a (meaning ‘the clock’) Church had an associated school from which many Moslawis (inhabitants of Mosul) graduated, regardless of their faith. Anyone coming from Nineveh or Al-Farouq streets would see Al-Hadba minaret and the clock tower of Al-Sa’a Church sharing the Mosul skyline.
The market
The market at Bab Al-Saray in Mosul, where the traders of spices from India and China have been active for over a thousand years. It is also where the book sellers in Al-Nujaifi Street embody a commerce of goods and ideas dating from time immemorial. View of the market in 2018.
The library
Amina is a Moslawi poet who finds inspiration
for her writing in Mosul University’s Central Library. Hundreds of thousands
of books and artefacts in this library were burned
to ashes or destroyed.
Nabi Younis Shrine Jonah’s tomb – destroyed
in 2014 – was one of Iraq’s renowned monuments. Revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews, it is believed to be the final resting place of the biblical prophet Jonah, and encapsulates the spirit of Mosul, as a symbol of religious coexistence and tolerance. View of the shrine in 1910.