The magnificent palace which he erected at Khorsabad was by far the most important of his constructions.
Compared with the later, and even with the earlier buildings of a similar kind erected by other kings, it was not remarkable for its size.
But its ornamentation was unsurpassed by that of any Assyrian edifice, with the single exception of the great palace of Asshur-bani-pal at Koyunjik.

Covered with sculptures, both internally and externally, generally in two lines, one over the other, and, above this, adorned with enamelled bricks, arranged in elegant and tasteful patterns; approached by noble flights of steps and through splendid propylaea; having the advantage, moreover, of standing by itself, and of not being interfered with by any other edifice, it had peculiar beauties of its own, and may be pronounced in many respects the most interesting of the Assyrian building's.

United to this palace was a town enclosed by strong walls, which formed a square two thousand yards each way.

Allowing fifty square yards to each individual, this space would have been capable of accommodating 80,000 persons.

The town, like the palace, seems to have been entirely built by Sargon, who imposed on it his own name, an appellation which it retained beyond the time of the Arab conquest.
It is not easy to understand the exact object of Sargon in building himself this new residence.