"Perched on the western bank of the Tigris River just about the confluence with the Lesser Zab River, Assur was settled at least since the late Early Dynastic period (about 2500 B.C.). In the beginning of the second millennium, the Old Assyrian period, Assur became the capital of a first Assyrian state and was an important town with a widespread trading network reaching from Iran and Babylonia to Anatolia, trading in metals and textiles. Assur’s location enabled the town to control the trade routes in all directions. In the second half of the second millennium Assur became the capital of the Middle Assyrian Empire. Though in the 9th century the mighty Neo-Assyrian kings had moved to other towns and built their residences in nearby Nimrud, Khorsabad, and Nineveh, Assur still was the religious center of Assyria: the temple of the national god Ashur remained in this town. Some Assyrian kings even returned to Assur after their death, and were buried in the so-called Old Palace, the palace of the forefathers." - Maitani