Which of these ancient cities was rediscovered in 1843 and is renowned for its library containing thousands of clay tablets in cuneiform writing?
Nineveh
Nineveh, the ancient capital of the Assyrian empire, was rediscovered in 1843 by British archaeologist Austen Henry Layard. Located on the banks of the Tigris in present-day Iraq, Nineveh was one of the greatest cities of its time. The most significant discovery at the site was the library of Ashurbanipal, which contained thousands of clay tablets in cuneiform writing, providing a valuable insight into the life, religion, literature, and history of ancient Mesopotamia. These texts include major literary works of antiquity, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, revealing a cultural and intellectual richness that deeply influenced subsequent civilizations in the region.
