At the end of the 8th century BC the Assyrian King Sennacherib chose Nineveh as his capital and built what he called the 'Palace without Rival', decorating it with finely carved reliefs.

Sargon II was unexpectedly killed in battle, and after his death, his son and successor relocated the capital from Dur-Sharrukin to the settlement of Nineveh ... of Sargon II's palace at Dur ...