The ancient palace of the Assyrian King Sennacherib, who is mentioned in the Bible, has been uncovered after Islamic State (IS) militants destroyed the tomb of the prophet Jonah, which was on top of the palace.
As IS is pushed out of areas in Iraq and Syria that they have controlled since 2014, archaeologists are being given the chance to study new discoveries. It is thought that IS has ransacked various ancient tombs and landmarks to collect valuables to sell on the black market to fund their operation.
Further study
‘I can only imagine how much Daesh discovered down there before we got here,’ archaeologist Layla Salih told The Telegraph.
‘We believe they took many of the artefacts, such as pottery and smaller pieces, away to sell. But what they left will be studied and will add a lot to our knowledge of the period,’ Salih added.
The palace of King Sennacherib dates back to the 7th century BC. The Assyrian King is mentioned in the Bible in 2 Chronicles 32.1 which says: ‘After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself.’
