There the vast structure at the north-western angle of the great mound, including the pyramidical eminence which is the most striking feature of the ruins, was a temple dedicated to the honor of Nin by Asshur-izir-pal, the builder of the North-West Palace.

We can have little doubt that this building represents the "busta Nini" of the clasical writers, the place where Ninus (Nin or Nin-ip), who was regarded by the Greeks as the hero-founder of the nation, was interred and specially worshipped.

Nin had also a second temple in this town, which bore the name of _Bit-kura_ (or Beth-kura), as the other one did of _Bit-zira_ (or Beth-zira).

It seems to have been from the fame of Beth-zira that Nin had the title _Pal-zira_, which forms a substitute for Nin, as already noticed, in one of the royal names.
MERODACH.
Most of the early kings of Assyria mention Merodach in their opening invocations, and we sometimes find an allusion in their inscriptions, which seems to imply that he was viewed as a god of great power.

But he is decidedly not a favorite object of worship in Assyria until a comparatively recent period.