Once known as the land of the prophets, Mosul was home to a large number of prophet shrines. Although their legitimacy was sometimes questioned, they were beloved by local Maslawis and visiting pilgrims. Almost all of these were destroyed in 2014 and 2015. Prophet shrines included those dedicated to Jonah, Seth, Daniel and St. George.

Mosque/ Mashhad of Prophet Jonah

Nebi Younus a small village with a mosque near Nineveh where it is believed the Prophet Jonah is buried.
Camera Studies in Iraq, A. Kerim. Courtesy of Special Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University

The mosque or mashhad of the Prophet Jonah was among the most beloved monuments of the region. It was destroyed by ISIS in two attacks and reconstruction activities have been complicated by the discovery of an ancient palace beneath the site.
The Ernst Herzfeld papers. Freer Gallery ofArt and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. D.C., FSA A.06 04.31. 0821


Shrine of Prophet Seth, Camera Studies in Iraq, A Kerim. Courtesy of Special Collections, Harvard Fine Arts LIbrary