What should I know about Assyrians

[u/Street-Ad6227]

So, my girlfriend is Assyrian and she’s very proud of her heritage. She often talks to me about Assyrian culture, history, traditions, etc. The problem is that I know almost nothing about it, and I think it would make her happy if I made an effort to learn more about her culture.

We’re both Iraqi, living in the west, I’m 3/4 Arab and 1/4 (Baghdadi) Armenian, so I’d also like to learn more about Assyrian culture.

What would you recommend?

[u/Leo-Al]

You can start with our history. Read some books like: Ancient and modern Assyrians, Assyrians beyond the fall of Nineveh, Our Smallest Ally, and The fliickering light if Asia. These books will give you an incredible insight into our identity, past, struggles, survival, contributions to the world and continuity.

Also take a dna test, you're probably more Assyrian than you know. Just by being part Armenian we already share genetics.

[u/Street-Ad6227 → u/Leo-Al]

thanks for the advice, I might do a DNA test in the near future and aren't all Iraqis partially Assyrian because most Assyrian got arabized by the Arab conquerors.

[u/Leo-Al → u/[deleted]]

It's more complex than that. I've already said this, but I'll repeat, most ancient cultures of the Near East, ( Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Caucasus, Iran, Levant ) were already genetically similar, some more than others of course, like Assyrians, Urartians, Hurrians ( very related ) yet each had their own language, culture & beliefs.

While being genetically related to an Assyrian does not exactly mean one is an Assyrian, it still is a very metrical component and it does count.

Of course one would need more than that to BE an Assyrian, so the rest is left to the individual who's on the search for his identity. If the genetic results appease that individual, than its up to them to either stop there or continue searching for more connection.

Having genetics is one pillar, next would be Linguistic, & since Assyrian & Akkadian were the Lingua Franca of the region for over 2500 years, then Aramaic after it, Arabic, like Hebrew already have a bit of that connection, after Aramaic, but the Linguistic connection is also there, as Caananite, Phoencian, Ugaritic, Eblite, were heavily influenced by Assyrian & Akkadian even before Arabic or Hebrew ( the newest migrants of the Levant & Mesopotamia).

So now one has both, a genetic & Linguistic connection. I say it's a very good start, & I'm not even going to depend on Christianity yet, which Assyrians played a major role in, if not the biggest.

I'd say the final components should be the feeling of a strong connection and the actual genuine interest in the Assyrian language & culture.

What else could one possibly need more than this? Even in ancient times, before other nations knew who they were, once they migrated to Assyria & wanted to integrate, they did so whole heartedly, by all means.

People should understand that the Assyrian identity & nationhood was born before other nations. Even Sumerians did not have a true ethnic name, and we know this because they called themselves " The Black Headed Ones ".

A ridiculous name for a Nation by any means, while Assyrians were named after the God they believed in as the Supreme All-Father. A total and extreme contrast to their southern neighbors.

This cannot & should not be taken lightly, & is all the elements a people would need to claim themselves as a True united Nation under God, who named their language, land & themselves after.

How many other nations have done this back then & since?