Assyrian Library of Ashurbanipal

The Assyrian Library of Ashurbanipal, located in ancient Nineveh (modern Iraq), was one of the first known libraries in history, established around the 7th century BCE. It housed thousands of clay tablets containing texts on various subjects, including literature, history, religion, and science. Ashurbanipal, the last powerful king of the Assyrian Empire, collected these writings to preserve and promote knowledge. The library serves as a critical source for understanding ancient Mesopotamian culture and has provided valuable insights into early human civilization through its well-preserved records.