Accad
Accad [Heb. ’akkad, possibly “strengthen” or “fortress”]. A city.
Accad is mentioned in Genesis 10:10 as one of the first cities of Nimrod’s kingdom along with Babel, Erech, and Calneh, all in the land of Shinar in the southern region of Mesopotamia. Accad has not yet been conclusively identified by archaeologists but there is plenty of evidence of the existence of an empire that was based in Akkad and therefore referred to as the Akkadian Empire. This ancient Mesopotamian empire dates to the late 3rd millennium BC. The most prominent king of Akkad was Sargon who established the Akkadian Empire and conquered other Sumerian city-states. Sargon did not build Akkad but brought it into prominence. “Akkadian” also refers to the ancient language of that region which has been preserved through cuneiform inscriptions (i.e. wedge-shaped impressions on clay tablets).