Editing Ninurta (section)

== Later influence ==
===In antiquity===
[[File:Nimrod (painting).jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|''Nimrod'' (1832) by [[David Scott (painter)|David Scott]]. Nimrod, the "great hunter" mentioned in {{bibleverse||Genesis|10:8–12|9}}, is believed by many scholars to be inspired by either Ninurta himself or the Assyrian king [[Tukulti-Ninurta I]], named after him]]

In the late seventh century BC, Kalhu was captured by foreign invaders.{{sfn|Robson|2015}} Despite this, Ninurta was never completely forgotten.{{sfn|Robson|2015}} Many scholars agree that Ninurta was probably the inspiration for the biblical figure [[Nimrod]], mentioned in {{bibleverse||Genesis|10:8–12|9}} as a "mighty hunter".{{sfn|Metzger|Coogan|1993|page=218}}{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=627}}{{sfn|Wiseman|1979|page=337}}{{sfn|Wildberger|2002|page=405}} Though it is still not entirely clear how the name ''Ninurta'' became ''Nimrod'' in Hebrew,{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=627}} the two figures bear mostly the same functions and attributes{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|pages=627–629}} and ''Ninurta'' is currently regarded as the most plausible etymology for Nimrod's name.{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=627}}{{sfn|Robson|2015}} Eventually, the ruins of the city of Kalhu itself became known in Arabic as ''Namrūd'' because of its association with Ninurta.{{sfn|Robson|2015}}

Later in the [[Old Testament]], in both {{bibleverse||2 Kings|19:37|9}} and {{bibleverse||Isaiah|37:38|9}}, [[Sennacherib|King Sennacherib]] of Assyria is reported to have been murdered by his sons [[Arda-Mulissu|Adrammelech]] and [[Sharezer]] in the temple of "[[Nisroch]]",{{sfn|Wildberger|2002|page=405}}{{sfn|Robson|2015}}{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=143}}{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=628}}{{sfn|Wiseman|1979|page=337}} which is most likely a scribal error for "Nimrod".{{sfn|Robson|2015}}{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=143}}{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=628}}{{sfn|Wiseman|1979|page=337}} This hypothetical error would result from the [[Hebrew alphabet|Hebrew letter]] מ ([[mem]]) being replacing with ס ([[samekh]]) and the letter ד ([[dalet]]) being replaced with ך ([[Kaph|kaf]]).{{sfn|Robson|2015}}{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=628}} Due to the obvious visual similarities of the letters involved and the fact that no Assyrian deity by the name of "Nisroch" has ever been attested, most scholars consider this error to be the most likely explanation for the name.{{sfn|Robson|2015}}{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=628}}{{sfn|Wiseman|1979|page=337}}{{sfn|Gallagher|1999|page=252}} If "Nisroch" is Ninurta, this would make Ninurta's temple at Kalhu the most likely location of Sennacherib's murder.{{sfn|Gallagher|1999|page=252}} Other scholars have attempted to identify Nisroch as [[Nusku]], the Assyrian god of fire.{{sfn|Wildberger|2002|page=405}} Hans Wildberger rejects all suggested identifications as linguistically implausible.{{sfn|Wildberger|2002|page=405}}

Although the Book of Genesis itself portrays Nimrod positively as the first king after the [[Genesis flood narrative|Flood of Noah]] and a builder of cities,{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=629}} the Greek [[Septuagint]] translation of the Hebrew Bible refers to him as a [[Giants (Greek mythology)|giant]]{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=629}} and mistranslates the Hebrew words meaning "before [[Yahweh]]" as "in opposition against God."{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=629}} Because of this, Nimrod became envisioned as the archetypal [[Idolatry|idolator]].{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=629}} Early works of Jewish ''[[midrash]]'', described by the first-century AD philosopher [[Philo]] in his ''Quaestiones'', portrayed Nimrod as the instigator of the building of the [[Tower of Babel]], who persecuted the Jewish [[Patriarchs (Bible)|patriarch]] [[Abraham]] for refusing to participate in the project.{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=629}} [[Augustine of Hippo|Saint Augustine of Hippo]] refers to Nimrod in his book ''[[The City of God]]'' as "a deceiver, oppressor and destroyer of earth-born creatures."{{sfn|van der Toorn|Becking|van der Horst|1999|page=629}}

===In modernity===
[[File:Esprit protecteur (British Museum) (8704834191).jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Stone relief carving of an [[Theriocephaly|eagle-headed]] genius from the temple of Ninurta at Kalhu; such depictions were widely, but erroneously, identified as Ninurta in the nineteenth century and were popularly known as "Nisrochs"]]

In the sixteenth century, Nisroch became seen as a [[demon]]. The Dutch [[demonology|demonologist]] [[Johann Weyer]] listed Nisroch in his ''[[Pseudomonarchia Daemonum]]'' (1577) as the "chief cook" of [[Hell]].{{sfn|Ripley|Dana|1883|pages=794–795}} Nisroch appears in Book VI of [[John Milton]]'s epic poem ''[[Paradise Lost]]'' (first published in 1667) as one of [[Satan]]'s demons.{{sfn|Milton|Flannagan|1998|page=521}}{{sfn|Bunson|1996|page=199}} Nisroch, who is described as frowning and wearing beaten armor,{{sfn|Milton|Flannagan|1998|page=521}} calls into question Satan's argument that the fight between the angels and demons is equal, objecting that they, as demons, can feel pain, which will break their morale.{{sfn|Milton|Flannagan|1998|page=521}} According to Milton scholar Roy Flannagan, Milton may have chosen to portray Nisroch as timid because he had consulted the Hebrew dictionary of C. Stephanus, which defined the name "Nisroch" as "Flight" or "Delicate Temptation".{{sfn|Milton|Flannagan|1998|page=521}}

In the 1840s, the British archaeologist [[Austen Henry Layard]] uncovered numerous stone carvings of winged, [[Theriocephaly|eagle-headed]] genii at Kalhu.{{sfn|Robson|2015}}{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=143}} Remembering the Biblical story of Sennacherib's murder, Layard mistakenly identified these figures as "Nisrochs".{{sfn|Robson|2015}}{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=143}} Such carvings continued to be known as "Nisrochs" in popular literature throughout the remaining portion of the nineteenth century.{{sfn|Robson|2015}}{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=143}} In [[E. Nesbit|Edith Nesbit]]'s classic 1906 children's novel ''[[The Story of the Amulet]]'', the child protagonists summon an eagle-headed "Nisroch" to guide them.{{sfn|Robson|2015}} Nisroch opens a portal and advises them, "Walk forward without fear" and asks, "Is there aught else that the Servant of the great Name can do for those who speak that name?"{{sfn|Robson|2015}} Some modern works on art history still repeat the old misidentification,{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=143}} but Near Eastern scholars now generally refer to the "Nisroch" figure as a "griffin-demon".{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=143}}

In 2016, during its brief conquest of the region, the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL) demolished Ashurnasirpal II's ziggurat of Ninurta at Kalhu.{{sfn|Lewis|2016}} This act was in line with ISIL's longstanding policy of destroying any ancient ruins which it deemed incompatible with its militant interpretation of Islam.{{sfn|Lewis|2016}} According to a statement from the [[American Schools of Oriental Research]] (ASOR)'s Cultural Heritage Initiatives, ISIL may have destroyed the temple to use its destruction for future propaganda{{sfn|Lewis|2016}} and to demoralize the local population.{{sfn|Lewis|2016}}

In March 2020, archaeologists announced the discovery of a 5,000-year-old cultic area filled with more than 300 broken ceremonial ceramic cups, bowls, jars, animal bones and ritual processions dedicated to Ningirsu at the site of [[Girsu]]. One of the remains was a duck-shaped bronze figurine with eyes made from bark which is thought to be dedicated to [[Nanshe]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jarus |first=Owen |date=30 March 2020 |title=Ancient cultic area for warrior-god uncovered in Iraq |url=https://www.livescience.com/girsu-cult-discovered.html |access-date=2020-08-31 |website=Live Science |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gavin|date=2020-04-11|title=Ancient cultic area for warrior-god uncovered in Iraq|url=https://most-interestingthings.com/ancient-cultic-area-for-warrior-god-uncovered-in-iraq/|access-date=2020-08-31|website=Most Interesting Things|language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2023, the [[E-ninnu|E-ninnu temple]] (Temple of the White Thunderbird), the primary sanctuary of Ningirsu was identified during the excavations led by [[British Museum]] and [[J. Paul Getty Museum|Getty Museum]] archaeologists at the site of [[Girsu]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Tobi |date=2023-02-17 |title=Discovery of 4,500-year-old palace in Iraq may hold key to ancient civilisation |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/feb/17/discovery-of-4500-year-old-palace-in-iraq-may-hold-key-to-ancient-civilisation |access-date=2023-02-23 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>