Murder, mayhem and museums Jan 7, 2009
Before I left for Basra, I met him in the British Museum's rooms full of Assyrian wall reliefs, and had just enough time to marvel at the exhibition on ancient Babylon, a place not far from today's Basra ... "There were statuettes, just five or six inches high, representing Babylonian kings and Sumerian warriors and princesses. And there was a lamasu - the winged ox that was the symbol of Assyrian strength, and silverware and jewellery. And they had found Babylonian gold, absolutely priceless.... (BBC News -- UK)
Reporters on the Job Dec 4, 2008
Iraq, Then and Now: Correspondent Jane Arraf went to Nimrud, Iraq, in the late 1990s and talked to Iraqi archaeologists who had discovered the ancient royal Assyrian tombs in 1989. "They had held in their hands a gold headdress, earrings, and amulets laid to rest with Assyrian queens. Even more than oil, Iraqis believe that their history is their greatest wealth and they guard it as closely," says Jane. (Christian Science Monitor -- World)
Iraq: Can ancient Babylon be rescued? Nov 12, 2008
An Assyrian statue, center, and two Assyrian human-headed winged bulls showsn here at the Iraqi national museum in Baghdad. The museum was looted in the days after Saddam Hussein's downfall in 2003. (MSNBC -- Politics)
Out & About: 5 things to do in the Modesto area Nov 8, 2008
FREE FUN: Immerse yourself in the culture of the Assyrian Food Festival with entertainment, cultural crafts and -- of course -- food. Today and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. St. Zaia Church, 1457 Mable Ave., Modesto. (Modesto Bee, CA)
Assyrian Chaldean Festival moves to valley, draws crowd Sep 21, 2008
Mikhaeil Moshi of Turlock barbecues lula kebabs during the Assyrian Chaldean Festival in Ceres at Saint Matthewis Church Saturday, September 20, 2008 ... CERES -- With the sound of drums and flutes and the smell of roasting beef kabobs floating through the breeze, hundreds gathered to celebrate Assyrian and Chaldean culture Saturday ... It is the first time in recent memory that the Assyrian Chaldean Festival has been held in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. (Modesto Bee, CA)
Biblical archaeology focus of lecture and exhibit Sep 18, 2008
Hezekiah had spent much time and expense to fortify many cities and villages throughout his kingdom, and took measures to liberate himself from Assyrian control ... This revolt for independence was met by a war campaign of death, devastation and destruction by the Assyrian leader Sennacherib. (Webster Progress-Times, MS)
Art & Empire: Assyrian Treasures at... Sep 16, 2008
Art & Empire: Assyrian Treasures at MFA, Boston: 250 Mesopotamian Works from British Museum in Landmark Exhibition ... Art e: Assyrian Treasures at MFA, Boston ... Art & Empire: Assyrian Treasures at MFA, Boston. (Suite101.com)
LETTERS: NCT, August 15, 2008 Aug 16, 2008
"Now here is a real leader for you. Saskashvili blaims the Russians and the West for the invasion of Georgia. Both the Russians and Sec Rice told you not to attack South Otessia. But, no you want and did it anyway. Now you are boo hooing without take responsibility for your decision. Nick wrote on Aug 15, 2008 2:31 PM:The term "Palestine" is cognate with the word Philistine, and the Philistine people dominated the southern coastal plain during its earliest recorded history (i.e. during the... (North County Times)
As violence declines, Iraqi officials launch effort to draw tourists Jul 24, 2008
The northern city of Mosul is near the remnants of Ninevah and Nimrud, cities of the Assyrian empire. But Mosul is one of the more violent places in Iraq these days. (Boston Globe)
Archaeologists Trace Early Irrigation Farming In Ancient Yemen Jul 22, 2008
11, 2006) The view from space of an ancient canal network is recasting archaeologists' understanding of the Assyrian capital of Nineveh and of the farming economy that supported it at its height of power. (Feb. (Science Daily)
Jordan hands over stolen Iraqi artifacts Jun 23, 2008
Widespread looting in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities following Saddam's ouster plundered the country's Babylonian, Sumerian and Assyrian collections spanning some 7,000 years of civilization in ancient Mesopotamia. Iraqi and world culture officials have struggled to retrieve the treasures with little success because of fears they could be lost again amid the rampant violence and the difficulties in documenting the extent of the damage. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
Iraqi Christians Warn of 'New Catastrophe for Humanity' May 29, 2008
(Editor's note: Adds comment from Assyrian Universal Alliance ... "If these atrocities continue, the Chaldean, Syriac and Assyrian communities there will be wiped out altogether, creating a new catastrophe for humanity." ... Iraq's Assyrians are a non-Arab ethnic minority located mainly in northeastern Iraq, and adherents of Christian denominations including the Chaldean Catholic and Syriac Orthodox churches. (CNSnews.com)
LETTERS: NCT, May 20, 2008 May 21, 2008
Tweaker wrote on May 20, 2008 1:59 PM:Chris to Bill[-] wrote on May 20, 2008 11:27 A Chris: I believe that the kingdom of Isreal and later the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea existed from around 900 BC to 700BC. It ceased to exist with the arrival of the Assyrians. But, then again, I could be wrong. (North County Times)
Milton and Shakespeare: Battle of the Bards May 17, 2008
The 20-line sentence contains 20 proper names: Enna, Prosperin, Dis, Ceres, Daphne, Orontes, Castalian, Nyseian, Triton, Cham, Ammon, Lybian Jove, Amalthea, Bacchus, Rhea, Abassin, Amara, Ethiop, Nilus, Assyrian. How many people nowadays (even among the exceptionally well-educated readers of TIME) know what all those words mean. (Time.com)
Satellites Used To Explore Ancient Mexico May 14, 2008
11, 2006) The view from space of an ancient canal network is recasting archaeologists' understanding of the Assyrian capital of Nineveh and of the farming economy that supported it at its height of power. (May 23, 2002) Ancient, buried footpaths visible using satellite instruments but invisible on the ground to the human eye will be studied in Costa Rica this summer after a 20-year hiatus by University of Colorado. (Science Daily)
Syria gives Iraq back 701 stolen artifacts May 2, 2008
Widespread looting in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities following Saddam's ouster in April 2003 depleted the Babylonian, Sumerian and Assyrian collections that chronicled some 7,000 years of civilization in ancient Mesopotamia. Iraqi and world culture officials have struggled to retrieve the treasures with little success because of fears they could be lost again amid the rampant violence and the difficulties in documenting the extent of the damage. (MSNBC -- Lifestyle)
It's a Bad World Apr 9, 2008
And a 40-year-old Assyrian Orthodox priest was killed in a drive-by shooting in Baghdad in the latest attack against Iraq's Christian minority. In Zimbabwe, one of the world's longest-reigning tyrants, Robert Mugabe, began to violently annul the latest elections. (Human Events Online)
Is Globalization as Old as the Earth? Apr 6, 2008
But evidence points to foreign rule, says Dr. Lipschits, who believes the site was likely an ancient local administrative center -- a branch office -- of Assyrian rulers ... Explains Lipschits, "Between 700 BCE to about 70 CE, Jerusalem was home to various Judean cults and at times a center for religious fanaticism. The Assyrians understood that they could gain better control of their vassal kingdom -- and continue collecting taxes -- by maintaining a safe distance." ... In the "suburbs." The... (Science Daily)
O.I. marks 5-year-old ‘catastrophe’ at Baghdad museum: Illicit trade in antiquities promotes looting of unprotected repositories Apr 4, 2008
A U.S. tank sits outside the entrance to a reconstructed Assyrian gate at the children s section of the Iraq National Museum with a gaping hole in its fa;ade. All photos courtesy of Joanne Farchakh-Bajjaly. (Univeristy of Chicago Chronicle, IL)
Hanging Gardens of Babylon Mar 28, 2008
Babylon was the capital of the Neo-Babylonian empire, which thrived in the region of Mesopotamia (a region covering today s Iraq, part of Syria, southeastern Turkey and Southwestern Iran) from 612 B.C. (when the Babylonians threw off rule by the Assyrians, with whom they had continual conflict) until 539 B.C. when it fell to Cyrus the Great of the Persian Empire ... And there s also a good chance that that the gardens of Babylon may have been confused with a similar garden which was known to... (Suite101.com)
The Archangel Gabrielle chainsaw massacre Mar 26, 2008
But in the Talmud, Gabriel is the assassin, sent to waste the sin-cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the armies of the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, "with a sharpened scythe which had been ready since Creation". The Archangel Amendments draw more on Gabriel's dark side. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Looting of Iraq's Past: A Preview Mar 6, 2008
Assyrian Origins: Discoveries at Ashur on the Tigris. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1995. (Suite101.com)
Early Voting Continues in 2 NH Towns Jan 8, 2008
" Brian McNamee asked Roger Clemens that question _ or variations of it _ 21 times during a 17-minute taped conversation. He never really got an answer. A recording of last Friday's telephone... - Added 1 hour ago For the first time, a team with two losses ended up No. 1. LSU climbed to the top of The Associated Press college football poll for the third time this season, winning its second title after beating Ohio State 38-24 in... - Added 3 days ago Isaac Samow's Assyrian Christian ancestors... (Town Hall)
Iraqi Assyrians cling to roots even far from home Dec 25, 2007
Yet another war is now threatening the survival of Assyrian culture and language -- a derivation of the tongue spoken by Jesus -- in its native land. Among the first converts to Christianity, thousands of Assyrians have fled since the U.S. invasion ... In such a climate, minorities like Assyrians Christians face an uncertain future. (North County Times)
Work believed a Gauguin turns out to be a forgery Dec 13, 2007
Scotland Yard opened its inquiry nearly two years ago after curators raised questions when the family tried to sell an Assyrian relief to the British Museum. The investigators ultimately determined that Shaun Greenhalgh, 47, operated as the forger and that his parents, George, 84, and Olive, 83, were the sellers. (International Herald Tribune -- Arts)
Middle Eastern Americans Exhibit on View through Dec. 21 UCLA, Oct. 01 Oct 2, 2007
This diverse and vibrant group cuts across nationalities, religions (including Baha'ism, Christianity, Druze, Islam, Judaism, Mandaeanism and Zoroastrianism) and ethnicities (including Afghans, Arabs, Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Copts, Iranians, Israelis, Kurds and Turks) ... The section on community studies examines Middle Eastern communities in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and New York, as well as in some smaller towns throughout the U.S. The group-studies section focuses on Arab... (University of California Newswire, CA)
BAGHDAD BY THE BAY Aug 5, 2007
" New arrivals might have struggled with the language and culture at first, but eventually - if not quickly - they adjusted to life in the United States. Iraqi immigrants who continue to come here find a support system in their language of choice, whether it's Arabic, English or another tongue. Some Iraqi Americans speak the Biblical language of Aramaic, which Ashur Yoseph learned growing up. Yoseph didn't speak a word of English when he arrived in the United States from Iraq in 1973. The son of... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Opinion)
Art meets war in Iraq, and one loses Jul 26, 2007
The many civilizations that passed through Iraq left an imprint on its artists, from the winged bulls that guarded Assyrian city gates to the elegant calligraphy of Islamic art. Now those who inherited that proud tradition are scattered across the Middle East, Europe and the United States. (Los Angeles Times)
FBI: Iraqis 'Being Smuggled Across the Rio Grande'... Jul 18, 2007
The Blotter: FBI: Iraqis Being Smuggled Across the Rio Grande. TOP BLOTTER CATEGORIES. (The Drudge Report)
Iran's practical nationalism Jun 7, 2007
The Achaemenid Empire was the first universal empire (barring possibly the Assyrian Empire), and it is usually regarded as the beginning of Iranian national history. For most Western historians, it also reflects inefficient and repressive Oriental despotism, as demonstrated by the Achaemenids' inability to defeat the Greeks and their final conquest by Alexander the Great of Macedonia in the 4th century BC.. (Asia Times Online)
The Buried Book Mar 24, 2007
The stylized images of ancient Assyrian kings, with their braided beards and Art Deco muscles, riding out in chariots to hunt lions or men, are now familiar, but until the 19th century nothing was known of them ... One of the last Assyrian kings, Ashurbanipal, had the literary skills and interests of a scribe. (International Herald Tribune -- Arts)
Ancient evenings Mar 5, 2007
The son of London laborers, Smith was an engraver who taught himself to read Assyrian cuneiform during lunch hours in the British Museum ... One of "Gilgamesh" 's first and biggest fans, however, was Ashurbanipal, who ruled the Assyrians in the eighth century BC ... The Assyrian empire fell to its enemies not long after Ashurbanipal's time; the palace was destroyed by invaders and the library of fired clay tablets buried in its rubble, their contents forgotten. (Boston Globe)
Australia Day Honours - honouring the achievers Jan 26, 2007
His Grace Bishop Mar Meelis ZAIA, Fairfield NSW. For service to the community through the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East and developing educational facilities. MEMBER (AM) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Eight on faculty receive DSPs, Named Chairs Jan 5, 2007
Roth, who was named Deputy Provost for Research and Education in 2004, is the editor-in-charge of the 26-volume Chicago Assyrian Dictionary. Her research focuses on the legal and social history of the ancient Near East, with her primary interests being family law, women s legal and social issues, and the compilation and transmission of laws. (Univeristy of Chicago Chronicle, IL)
