HISTORY

JERUSALEM — In a study published by Oxford University archaeologist Riley Avisar, new insights have emerged about Jerusalem’s transformation into a prosperous city during its time under the Assyrian Empire. The findings, which were featured in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology and later reported by the Jerusalem Post, shed light…

Introduction Across the sprawling plains of the Syrian Gozarto (Jazeera) Region, where the sun’s rays intertwine with the green expanse of fields and rivers flow like lifelines nourishing the land, the Asfar-Najjar family carved an indelible mark in the annals of Syria’s national achievements. This Syriac family, whose journey began…

By Nurgül Çelebi Akitu, also known as Akitum, is the Mesopotamian New Year festival. Such festivals are among the oldest and the most universally observed today. The earliest known record of a New Year festival dates to about 2000 BCE in Mesopotamia, where in Babylonia the new year began with…

NIMRUD, Iraq — The Iraqi government unveiled an ambitious plan to restore the ancient city of Nimrud, a historic site that dates back to the Assyrian Empire (1250–610 BCE). Heritage Minister Ahmed Fakak al-Badrani announced the discovery of 35,000 archaeological artifacts, which are set to undergo advanced restoration. Nimrud, once…

Introduction Yaqub Keryo, son of Joseph the Syriac, is not merely a name in the annals of journalism in Syria and the broader Middle East, but a symbol of intellectual commitment and the struggle through words. A bold journalist, a profound thinker, and a cultural activist, he left an indelible…

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — Marking a period of natural renewal, fertility, and abundance, the coming of spring has been celebrated by human civilizations around the world through history. In Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia), the cradle of civilization, some of the oldest spring traditions are still practiced. The Syriacs, Kurds and…

In 1902, Saeed Ishaq was born in Qalaat al-Umara, in the province of Mardin, into a deeply rooted Syriac Orthodox family in the Levant. From an early age, he displayed a passion for learning, beginning his education at the village school of Dayro d-Mor Hananyo (Dair al-Zafaran Monastery). There, he…

By Ablahad Saka Bartiloyo Professor Asaad Sauma Asaad states in his article The Aramaic Language and Its Dialects: “The Aramaic language is unique among its Semitic counterparts in that it is the only Semitic language that has been spoken and written for at least three thousand years without interruption. This…

A series about influential Syriacs in the modern history of Syria A Flight from Slaughter Bahdi’s tale starts in Wiranshahr, a city nestled in what is now southeastern Turkey, once a cradle of Syriac heritage. In the early 20th century, the Ottoman state unleashed the horrors of the Sayfo massacres…

Introduction In the corners of Syriac history, there are names of heroes who have been overlooked by official documentation, despite their immense sacrifices. One of these figures is Hanna Yaqub Abdulki, a man who was not just a successful silk merchant, but also a social and political leader who contributed…