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How did Sennacherib’s canal bring water from Bavian to Nineveh?

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View of Utrecht's Oude Gracht canal lined with historic brick buildings, arched doorways at water level, and boats moored along the canal edge in the Netherlands. — canals and inland waterways The *Oudegracht* (Old Canal), Utrecht, Netherlands.

In the 7th century BCE, the Assyrian king Sennacherib constructed a stone-lined canal to transport fresh water from Bavian to Nineveh for irrigation and urban needs. This engineering project spanned approximately 80 km (50 miles) in length and 20 meters (66 feet) in width.12

To manage the water flow effectively, the system incorporated advanced techniques, including a dam equipped with sluice gates that allowed for the regulation of stored water. A critical component of the canal was a massive aqueduct built to cross a valley at Jerwan. This structure was composed of approximately two million blocks of limestone and featured five large, pointed archways. To ensure the integrity of the water channel, the bed of the aqueduct was sealed with a specialized cement containing magnesium. Parts of this impressive structure remain standing today.12