Nineveh means in the bible: Capital of Assyria, on the eastern bank Tigris. Its traditional founder was Nimrod the great hunter Gen. Calah was its capital for many centuries, until Sennacherib made it the capital of 2 Kgs. 19:36; Isa. 37:37. For more than 200 year, it was a major commercial hub and housed a vast library of clay books. It was destroyed by the Assyrian Empire in 606 B.C. Babylonia and Assyria are also available. For prophecies concerning Nineveh, see Jonah 1:2; 3:2-7; 4:11; Nahum 1:1; 2:8; 3:7; Zeph. 2:13. Repentant Nineveh is a sign for the Jews Matt. Luke 11.32; 12:41 The ruins of the city have been thoroughly explored and many significant sculptures and inscriptions discovered.
(in Bible Dictionary)