10/05/2022

Institut Mesopotamie appoints new team of academics in history and culture of Syriacdom. Sayfo exhibition planned for June 12, summer courses in July

BRUSSELS – The Educational Research Center Institut Mesopotamie de Bruxelles was established with the mission to spread knowledge about Mesopotamian civilizations and peoples, especially about the Syriac (Aramean-Assyrian-Chaldean) people, their history, language, culture and Christianity. The Institute does this by fostering education and research in this field through a varied program of courses, seminars, workshops and by creating a suitable research environment for experts and researchers from different countries to come together in projects.

This summer the Institut Mesopotamie has several online courses on the program: ancient Mesopotamian Beliefs (July-August), Classical Syriac and Syriac Liturgy (August), Women in Mesopotamian Social Life (August) and The Development of Syriac Identity pre-Christianity (August). The new team of historians, linguists, and Assyriologist consists of Nurgül Çelebi, Adem Coşkun, Gamze Özdemir, and Miklos Kerekes.

Nurgül Çelebi, Project and Program director of the Institut Mesopotamie, commented to our news desk when asked about the upcoming activities of the institute;

“As Institut Mesopotamie de Bruxelles, we aim to represent all Mesopotamian peoples, especially the Syriac people. We have started to implement many of our projects which aim to train our intellectuals, and to support and encourage studies to be carried out in the academic field”

“The first of these projects is the Fig Tree painting exhibition of the Sayfo Genocide which will open on June 12, and which carries the name ‘The situation of women during Sayfo.” It is an artistic event. In addition to this, our new program of online courses (which will be held in July and August), workshops, literature studies, and women’s conferences have also been planned. For example, we are preparing a webinar with the participation of academics and experts where the Sayfo Genocide will be discussed from a sociological, linguistic, legal, and political perspective.”

“We are ready to revive and keep alive a culture that is on the brink of extinction. We therefore invite all those interested to enroll, support and join our Institut.”