Note 13 — Chapter V · MOSUL, THE CITIES OF THE ASSYRIANS, THE YAZIDIS

Professor Ragozin, in his excellent book on the history of Assyria, mentions a possible explanation of the “Fish,” which, if acceptable, disposes entirely of that inconvenient creature.

“The very fable which is such a stumbling-block to the intelligent reading of the whole book becomes most unexpectedly cleared of its hitherto impenetrable obscurity when Assyriology informs us that the Assyrian name of the “great City” is Ninua, a word very much like “nunu,” which means fish, the connection being, moreover, indicated by the oldest sign for the rendering of the name in writing, which is a combination of lines or wedges plainly representing a fish in a basin or tank. The big fish that swallowed Jonah was no other than the Fish City itself, where he must surely have been sufficiently encompassed by dangers to warrant his desperate cry for deliverance.”