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Hello all,

Apologies if this is a stupid question, growing up I have known that I am half Syrian. I was not in touch with my Syrian ethnicity or heritage due to it being from my mother's side and growing up instead in my father's church (Egyptian Coptic).

As I grew older I would visit my cousins in Sweden(Syrian side) who would often have flags or banners saying "Suryoyo" and have the aramean eagle. I was told I was Suryoyo via my mothers blood but did not learn much more(or care to at the time).

In recent months I have grown more and more interested in my heritage, doing a DNA test and hoping to attend regularly a local Syrian orthodox church(the church my mother says we belong to).

My question is this, in a recent family discussion one uncle of mine said that the idea of Syriac or Chaldean are all meaningless and that we are all Assyrian. At this point another uncle said we are not Assyrian we are aramean. And that we come from ARAM not Assyrian(although I understand in time they became one and the same). I have encountered many Assyrians in my life(based on Sydney Australia) but never felt as one of them always believing that they are Assyrians from Iraq and I am Suryoyo from Syria(Al malikiyah to be precise).

As you may have figured by now I am quiet plastic and clueless, and hence have two questions.

1. How can I find out more about my heritage and lineage?
2. Am I considered Assyrian if my ancestors are originally from Aram? (Yes I understand they became one but I would not expect an Assyrian to say they are Iraqi because Iraq sits where Assyria was).

Thankyou all for your help!

I'm the one who is making a comic called "Little Ashur" that takes place around 680 BCE. It's one of the prequel comics I have to the main one I have. These are Assyrian ocs of mine (along with other Mediterranean & Mesopotamian ocs). I want to feature some Assyrian stories or just any popular Mediterranean/Mesopotamian tales (Ex. The Epic of Gilgamesh, Dalaleh's bridge, etc.).

Are there any stories in particular I could feature or a story that has a strong emotional meaning behind it?

ܫܠܡܐ، ܚܕܬܐ ܝܘܢ ܐܟܐ ܘ ܒܣ ܟܐ ܒܥܝܢ ܘܐ ܐܡܪܝܢ ܘܐ ܦܨܚܝܢ ܟܒܝܪܐ ܐܝܡܢ ܚܙܝܢ ܐܝܬܠܢ ܚܕ ܟܢܫܘܬܐ ܐܟܐ ܕ ܐܢܫܐ ܕܝܝܢ ܐܬܘܪܝܐ ❤️.

ܐܝܬ ܚܕܐ ܐܢܫܐ ܝܕܥ ܐܝܟܐ ܐܝܬܒܝ ܙܒ݂ܢܝܢ ܟܬܒܢܐ ܒܣܘܪܝܬ؟

ܦܚܠܬܐ ܐܝܢ ܐܝܬܠܝ ܚܠܛܐ ܒܟܬܒܬܝ. ܐܠܗܐ ܢܛܪܠܘܟܘܢ ܟܠܘܟܘܢ.

I have been searching about he Assyrian Empire and the mythology and the legends (I am Syrian yet not sure if with Assyrian ancestors, muslim). But i realized something. Even though Assyrian mythology is heavily affected from Babylonian and Sumerian mythology, i have never seen a book talking about Assyrian mythology by its own, rather than taking about Babylonian mythology then slightly talking about Assyrian. So is it that my research is not enough or are the books i am reading too old (around 1800-1900s) or are the circumstances really like this?

Personally, they captured Gilgamesh's personality very well in the original epic: Arrogant, tyrannical, disrespectful but sophisticated. They took more creative liberties with his appearance.

I know Chicago has a large Assyrian community. I was wondering what community events or groups are recommended. I am not religious, I respect religion and spirituality but it's just not my thing.

Hi, i can speak ,english,arabic,kurdish,Assyrian but unlike the first 2 languages, i dont know how to read or write if there is a place where i can learn it from, please share it

Feel free to share any advices i love my identity but i dont like not knowing how to read or write in my language.

Also i can speak assyrian 100%

My mother who is Assyrian was born in Zakho,Iraq. She grew up in the levantine region. She had to flee in 1990 , 1 month before the war in kuwait had happened

It always saddens me whenever she would talk about her treatment in Iraq and the time under Hussein's rule, how they would limit their rights just for being Assyrian. Including her time in school how they had to require her to take a religious class based on islam , when she denied to take that class , they expelled her . but that's one of the many stories i can get into another time

I'm trying to search for a story within the newspaper in Iraq at the time under Hussein's ruling . The timeline that was 1 month before he started a war in Kuwait around the 1990s . My mother told me a story about how when they migrated to a different country to escape with her and her family to avoid being forced into a war they were never involved in nor wanted to die for, her uncle called the family and mention how they burned her house down and had posted on the newspaper that this family is wanted , including all the names in that bloodline down to the father , mother , sisters and brothers . And apparently their name is still on the system to this day and if they ever get captured they will be detained by the govt. My mother still reminisces about her home country and wishes to return someday but sadly she can't .

I've been trying to look everywhere online for this wanted newspaper that had been posted by the Iraqi govt upon the "Shamoon" family . But had no luck . Does anybody know where I can find an archived site in that timeline . Much help would be appreciated since this is a story I would want to let people know on the history and how mistreated the family had been ?

Would you like to see a name change done in the future, especially in our lifetime? One way to get it done would be for everybody to come together with their academic thinking caps and appropriately discuss it.

I for one support the idea. In a sense, one name gives us a cohesive edge, if that's what we're striving for. There'll be fewer squabbles and divisions within our own community. Outsiders will know precisely what to call us and be less confused. The list of positives keeps going on... Let's hear your opinions!

Like some of our people, my family comes from the area from Zakho , and specifically from a place called “Alanesh” Does anyone know any information about these towns and specifically Alanesh? Any information about this will be acceptable. ( will nwow yappanese in order to make it easier for me to upload the post, Yap yap yap yap yap.)

I am conducting a research on Assyrians in the Urmia Region prior to the Assyrian genocide and exodus from the region. I came upon various sources that confirm the existence of converts to Protestantism outside of the city of Urmia itself (mainly under the influence of the American mission) but I couldn't find information on the specific villages (besides Gulpashan). So does anyone here have information or maybe sources that list the various villages that had a Protestant presence prior to WW1 ?

Hi there, I just would like to know whether there are religious Assyrians or not. I know that there are also non-religious people, muslims and may be others practising different religions among you and I really respect all of you from different believes. However, for me, I noticed the existance of Assyrians due to Christianity. Therefore, I humbly request for the Christian perspective. Like, the importance of your faith in your life or in your community. I am really looking forward to your reply , but please only reply to me if you are ok because I am afraid I might hurt your feelings since it is related to faith. With love.

Discussion

there is multiple reasons why in my eyes this could benefit us.

1. the Assyrian name is sadly recently even more so than ever Linked to atrocieties that the empire has committed in the ANCIENT past, even though EVERYONE and i mean EVERYONE in that time period committed basically the same acts AGAINST each other...Palestinians(canaanites) or the Moabites or the Amorites or the Hittites or the Egyptians or the Iranians (persians) or even the abyssnian (blacks) or bantus...a lot of these people changed their names and their overall identity to not associate themselves with those crimes of said past anymore
2. the OG name of ours was Akkadian anyways...BEFORE assyrian was even a thing we called ourselves akkadian in the ancient past...you know ''Sargon of Akkad'' etc.
3. THIS IS NOT ME TRYING TO SPLINTER OUR GROUP FURTHER but more so to just rename us not like the arameans or Chaldeans...and i feel like the arameans and chaldeans MIGHT even like to join us back at that point if we all would fall under one greater name like Akkadian (since most chaldeans and arameans think that assyrians are just trying to be ''RIGHT'' desperately...so most chaldeans and arameans are STUBBORN on purpose and wanna deny the assyrian identity so how about us just going by akkadian)
4. to avoid jokes like ''ASSyrian'' which could be used by enemies to ridicule us and some people who don't know about us even think the ethnicity is made up and is just a weird joke
5. Akkadian sounds more badass
6. you might say ''but the akkadian also committed acts of violence in the past'' yeah but NOT as many as under the assyrian name and also the akkadian name is lesser known
7. Turkey has done the same thing with ''Turkiye'' since i guess some might have made fun of them for being ''stuffed like a turkey on thanksgiving'' or something along the lines similar to the ''ASSyrian' joke

For those who have taken the ancestry DNA test, have you noticed the change in the way our results are categorized for us Assyrians? It used to be categorized as Caucasus/Anatolia, Levant, and Iran (for most of us). My Caucasus was the highest, and Iran was a super low percent like under 5%. Now it is categorized as “Northern Iraq & Northern Iran” 100%. Anyone else have a similar result now?

I like that it’s more specific to us being Mesopotamians, but I also don’t understand why it took away results that relate to our ancestors in nearby regions like Anatolia and the Levant. It’s like telling me I’m Assyrian/Chaldean, which I already knew, but without any insight into what makes us Assyrian with the mix of regions nearby that we descend from. And I know my ancestors originated in Turkey, and part of Turkey is highlighted in the regions results, as well as parts of some other countries but the wording is referring to only Northern Iraq and Northern Iran, which is confusing. What do you guys think of this? The results aren’t technically any different, just the way they are categorized.

Hi everyone! I’m excited to say I’m starting to plan my wedding in Toronto Canada, and I’m hoping to include some traditional Assyrian elements.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend any Assyrian-owned businesses in the area that sell yalkahta (the decorative handkerchiefs) and ceremonial canes? I’d also love to find contacts for zorna and dowala players to bring that authentic vibe to the celebration.

Any suggestions or referrals would be amazing – thank you all so much for your help!

One reoccurring theme I’ve seen online especially on this subreddit is the theme of isolation and rejection. Many Assyrians do not feel Assyrian because mainstream Assyrian society does not accept them. Our culture has been through a lot of trauma. As a result, Assyrians have adapted negative coping traits like emotional unavailability, reactiveness, tribal mentality, exclusion. Many of the kind and compassionate Assyrians who think differently from the old-school, traditional confines of the church and community feel shunned. There is a lot of anger, hurt, apathy, and pain as our generation navigates both the pain passed down to us from our war-affected parents, and our loss of culture and identity in the diaspora. It’s not easy.

What I can say is that our culture right now is going through a transformation, and we’ll only know the outcome in a few more generations. Is it extinction? Is it revival? Only time will tell. But, a culture that does not change is a culture that dies! Throughout centuries, our ancestors redefined what it meant to be Assyrian. Those of us who feel like we don’t belong should not banish ourselves into exile. Our situation might be painful, but that’s how growth and change happen. Our spot is nowhere but in our culture, slowly working for change and healing. Slowly redefining what it means to be an Assyrian.

Hi everyone. Hope this question makes sense - I’m looking to try and incorporate some Assyrian iconography or cultural jewelry into my everyday life to start feeling a bit more connected to the culture. I am not religious, I consider myself to be spiritual and have been conflicted over wearing anything with a cross on it because of this reason. Is there anything I could wear as a pendant or jewelry? I was thinking of maybe some Aramaic text on a pendant or an Annunaki? Has anyone found any Assyrian jewelry makers or craftspeople they’d like to boost on here? Thanks for any help or thoughts! :)