Place Old Testament
Calah
Calah was an ancient Assyrian city built by Nimrod, along with Nineveh and Resen. Mentioned in 2 verses across 1 book, first at Genesis 10:11.
Why it matters. Ancient Assyrian city built by Nimrod
- Primary passages
- Location
- 36.143, 43.312 (approximate, within about 2 km)
Coordinates from STEPBible TIPNR (palopenmaps.org link). Approximate; not independently verified.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Calah
Calah was one of the ancient cities built by Nimrod, the great-grandson of Noah, in the land of Assyria (Genesis 10:11-12). It was located along the Tigris River, south of Nineveh, in what is now northern Iraq. Calah, together with Nineveh and Resen, formed a complex of major Assyrian cities known for their power and influence in the ancient Near East.
The city of Calah served as the capital of the Assyrian Empire during the reigns of several powerful kings, including Ashurnasirpal II and Tiglath-pileser III. It was known for its impressive palaces, temples, and artistic achievements. Archaeological excavations at the site, known today as Nimrud, have uncovered significant remains of the ancient city, including royal inscriptions, reliefs, and statues.
In the Bible, Calah is mentioned only in the context of Nimrod's kingdom and the early development of Assyria. Its inclusion in the list of Nimrod's cities highlights the importance and antiquity of the Assyrian civilization, which would later play a significant role in the history of Israel and Judah.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
No reviewed connections yet.
Appears in Scripture
Named in 2 verses across 1 book. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.