Nimrud served as Assyrian imperial capital from 879 to 706 BCE. City covered 360 hectares near Tigris and Great Zab rivers. Ashurnasirpal II rebuilt it as new capital with massive palace and first large zoo. Hosted 69,574 guests at 864 BCE banquet with 10,000 pigeons and 10,000 jugs of beer. Shalmaneser III built larger palace and Great Ziggurat. Excavations since 1845 uncovered lamassu statues up to 30 tons, Black Obelisk, ivories, and queens' tombs. Artifacts dispersed to 76 museums worldwide. ISIS bulldozed and exploded site in 2015 calling it un-Islamic idols. Iraqi forces recaptured in 2016 with 90% of excavated parts destroyed. Reconstruction began in 2017 with UNESCO support. Recent digs found inscribed door sill in 2022.