Arbil

   one of the leading cities of ancient Assyria. Situated between the Upper and Lower Zab rivers in the Assyrian heartland, Arbil (or Arbela) was noted for its sacred temple of Ishtar, goddess of sexual desire. Of Ishtar's many shrines across the wide Assyrian Empire, this one was second only to that in Ashur, Assyria's first royal capital. Later, following Assyria's demise, the town became momentarily famous because of the great battle fought there in 331 b.c. between Alexander the Great and Persia's King Darius III at nearby Gaugamela. Early modern scholars called it the Battle of Arbela. Because the modern city of Erbil completely overlays ancient Arbil, the latter has so far undergone very little excavation.

   See also: Ashur; Battle of Gaugamela; Ishtar; Zab rivers