Mosul the place I adore, because it is the place where I was born, and will die......
Mosul city is the capital of Nineveh governorate, 44 KM northwest of Bagdad. which occupies a big part of Iraq, to the north west of it, bordering Syria.
Nineveh was one of the major areas in the Ancient World, comprising many historical, archaelogical and first civilizations on Earth, including Assyria, the great empire of Mesopotamia from 721 to 633 BC.
When you visit Mosul, you will get in touch with all these ancient places, ruins, monuments, antiquities and more.
And you will be amazed how these areas could hold on all these centuries.
Tigris river, the most ancient and most palatable river, traverses the whole city, dividing it into Two Banks, the West and East Banks, or the right and left banks ( Jannebb) as local citizens used to refer.
5 bridges link these two sides, the sixth and sevenths bridges are being suggested for implementation.
Mosul is the third largest city of Iraq after Baghdad and Basra.
Majority of its inhabitants are Arabs, with some Kurdish, Assyrian and Turkmen minorities.
Most of them are Muslims, but there is a great deal of Christians here live with muslims as brothers together since many centuries.
People from Mosul are called Moslawis.
The city's population is estimated to be 2 000 000 in 2008, and it is getting more and more expanding since then.
The city is famous for many local products like fabric, brass, different types of locally made food stuff, which are very special to Mosul like the sesame oil, Tershee ( which is a type of compressed fruits and vegetables with vinegar) , very special sweets, and many many others.
Mosul is considered the academic centre for Iraq, being the place of the University of Mosul which is one of the largest, most famous, deep-rooted educational and developmental centres in the Middle East.
Language:
Arabic, but a special type of Arabic dialect which is different and unique than other Arabic of the rest of Iraq.
Mosul Arabic is influenced largely by the languages of every ethnic minority group co-existing in the city: Kurds, Turkmen, Armenians, Assyrians
Arabic is the lingua franca of communication, education, business, and official work to the majority of the city's residents
English is being more officilaized in the city, and most of the educated and upper class citizens have proficiency in English, especially after the wide invasion of Internet and modern technologies into the city after 2003.
Main Sights
Mosul is rich in old historical places and ancient buildings: mosques, castles, churches, monasteries, and schools, many of which have architectural features and decorative work of significance. The town center is dominated by a maze of streets and attractive 19th-century houses. There are old houses here of beauty.
The markets are so interesting in it, being old like Bab Al-Toob, Soaq Nabi Younis,... etc, and more modern Malls.
Mosques and shrines
The city is historic in terms of prophets's tombs, shrines, and mosques.
1. The Great (Nuriddin) Mosque: Built by Nuriddin Zangi in 1172 AD , which has that unique, remarkably elaborate brickwork 52m high minaret that leans like the Tower of Pisa, called Al-Hadba (The Humped)
2. Mosque of the Prophet Yunus or Younis (Jonah): It contains the Tomb of Peophet Jonah.
3. Mosque of the Prophet Jerjis (Georges)
4. Mashad Yahya Abul Kassem: On the right bank of the Tigris, known for its conical dome, decorative brickwork and calligraphy engraved in Mosul blue marble, 13th century.
5. Bash Tapia Castle: Mosul's old walls have disappeared, with the exception of these imposing ruins a'rising high over the Tigris.
6. Qara Serai (The Black Palace): The remnants of the 13th-century palace of Sultan Badruddin.
7. The Great Mosul Mosque, which was formely called the Great Mosque of Saddam, which was built in the former's era, and still not completed as construction is stopped because it was taken as a military base since the Invasion.
Churches and monasteries ( the ancient ones)
Mosul has the highest proportion of Christians of all the Iraqi cities, and contains several interesting old churches
1. Shamoun Al-Safa (St. Peter, Mar Petros)
2. Church of St. Thomas (Mar Touma)
3. Ancient Tahira Church
4. St. George's Monastery (Mar Gurguis)
5. Mar Matte: This famous monastery is situated about 20 km east of Mosul on the top of a high mountain (Mount Maqloub)
6. Monastery of Mar Behnam: Also called Deir Al-Jubb (The Cistern Monastery)
7. St. Elijah's Monastery (Dair Mar Elia)
7. The Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul
In addition to the thousands of worshipping houses, mosques, and churches scattered all over the city. THEY LIVE IN PEACE ALL TOGETHER.
University of Mosul
The University of Mosul was founded in April 1967, building on the foundations of the 1959 College of Medicine.
Today the University offers accredited Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate degrees in more than 100 scientific specializations. More than 80,000 students have graduated since the foundation of the University.
Research centers:
The University houses a number of scientific research centers, which reflect the University's orientation towards technological and practical developments. These centers conduct research, develop and update the University departments:
Computer Center
Environment and Water Resources Center
Regional Studies Center
Mosul Studies Center
Remote Sensing Center
Non-Irrigated Agriculture Research Center
Academic Teaching and Training Improvement Center
Library System
Mainly, the renowned Central Library
Campus
The University of Mosul is a multi-campus university consisting of three campuses located to the north of the city, and the College of Medicine which is located at the medical compound of the city.
there are 19 official Colleges of the University. with various deparments ab deverse specilaizations.
The University holds important and modern sport and atheletic facilities, like the Mosul University Stadium, a multi-purpose arena and home to the Mosul basketball teams, Olympic-sized swimming pool, and many others.
The tourist Attractions:
Mainly the Gabbat or the Forests of Mosul on the sides of Dijlaa (Tigris) with many casinos, restaurants, and cafeterias, Ghabbat represents the breathing lungs of Mosul with its thousands trees of different types. As well as the historical areas, and Mosul outdoors in the outer spaces and agricultural areas.
COME PAY A VISIT!
(Note: This was an original article written specifically for a close friend who went to the United States for a program, and he wanted a hand helping him defining Mosul there in the States).
Mahmood Faris
Mosul Medical College
19th of July- 2013
محمود فارس محمد قاسم الحيالي
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