Final answer:
The palace of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh was a monumental part of the Neo-Assyrian Empire's capital, filled with lavish decorations and sculptures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The palace of Ashurbanipal, located at Nineveh, was renowned for its architectural grandeur and was a part of the Neo-Assyrian Empire's capital city. King Sennacherib, who ruled around 700 BCE, is credited with transforming Nineveh into a spectacular city.
He constructed the 'palace without a rival', which was a massive structure comprising at least 80 rooms and lined with sculptures.
Bas-reliefs, ivories, and sculptures, including the famous lamassu, or winged man-headed bulls, adorned the palace. Modern excavations have unearthed many artifacts including cuneiform tablets, thereby revealing significant information about the Assyrian Empire.
The Assyrian capital, originally built in the 800s BCE, was known for its luxury palaces and other structures built on a scale of grandeur not seen before, reflecting the wealth and power of the Assyrian kings due to their military successes.
Nineveh experienced greatness during the reign of Ashurbanipal but fell into decline after his death in 627 BCE. The city faced civil wars and external attacks from Babylonians and Medes. By 612 BCE, Nineveh was sacked and eventually razed to the ground.