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Assyrian flag

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Assyria
UseEthnic flag
Adopted1971; 54 years ago (1971)
DesignWhite field with a golden circle at the center, surrounded by a four-pointed star in blue. Four triple-colored (red-white-blue), widening, wavy stripes connect the center to the four corners of the flag.
Designed byGeorge Bet Atanus

The Assyrian flag (Syriac: ܐܬܐ ܐܬܘܪܝܬܐ ʾāṯā ʾāṯōrāytā or ܐܬܐ ܕܐܬܘܪ ʾāṯā d-ʾāṯōr)[1] is widely used to represent the Assyrian nation in the homeland and in the diaspora. The flag was first designed by George Bit Atanus in 1968,[2] and was adopted in 1971 during a gathering of Assyrian organizations. The Assyrian Universal Alliance, Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party, Assyrian Democratic Organization, and all participants at the Assyrian Universal Alliance World Congress are believed to be some of the first organizations to have adopted the modern Assyrian flag.

The flag has a white background with a golden circle at the center, surrounded by a four-pointed star in blue, representing the ancient sun god Shamash. Four triple-colored (red-white-blue), widening, wavy stripes connect the center to the four corners of the flag. The figure of pre-Christian Assyrian God Ashur, known from Iron Age iconography, features above the center.

Symbolism

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The golden circle at the center represents the sun, which, by its exploding and leaping flames, generates heat and light to sustain the earth and all its living things. The four-pointed star surrounding the sun symbolizes the land, its light blue color symbolizing tranquility. Together, they form the main star present on the flag which represents the sun deity Shamash, also known as Utu. He was worshipped in the ancient Mesopotamian region, and was apparently the deity who provided leaders like Hammurabi, Ur-Nammu, and Gudea with divine laws.

The wavy stripes extending from the center to the four corners of the flag represent the three major rivers of the Assyrian homeland: the Tigris, the Euphrates, and the Great Zab. The lines are small at the center and become wider as they spread out from the circle. The dark blue stripes stands for plentitude, and represents the Euphrates. The red stripes, whose blood-red hue stands for courage, glory, and pride, represent the Tigris. The white lines in between the two great rivers symbolize the Great Zab; its white color stands for tranquility and peace. Some interpret the red, white, and blue will gather all the Assyrians back to their homeland to stand strong and fight for what they want and what they have gained.[3]

The archer figure above the star of Shamash symbolizes the ancient Assyrian god Ashur, shown in a battle stance with a bow and arrow.[4] The original version of the flag adopted by the Assyrian Universal Alliance had the Shamash in bronze, blue, and white coloring that represented the engravings of Ashur found at the British Museum.[5] Other variations of the flag show the Ashur symbol in all red or gold, or just leave it out altogether.

History

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Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Assyrian flag designed before World War I and used until 1975
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag The flag used by the Assyrian volunteers during World War I

Prior to World War I, Western Assyrians (i.e. Syriac Orthodox Assyrians, Syriacs, etc.) from the Tur Abdin region designed an Assyrian flag consisting of three horizontal tricolor stripes colored purple, white, and red, with three white stars at the upper hoist.[2] The purple, white, and red bars represented the loyalty, purity, and determination of the Assyrian people, and the three white stars represent the three names or components of the Assyrian nation, Assyrians, Syriacs, and Chaldeans.[6][7] This flag was used during delegation meetings with Assyrian politicians and Western powers post World War I, including the Assyro-Chaldean delegation of the Paris Peace Conference.[8] Alternative variations of the flag exist with a salmon stripe instead of a purple one.

During the First World War, the Assyrian volunteers commanded by Agha Petros used a red flag with a white cross. Agha Petros' personal standard was the flag of the Volunteers but made of silk, with a golden fringe added, and the words "Trust God and follow the Cross" written in Assyrian above the cross.[9][10]

The three stripe flag was also in use by the Assyrian National Federation, later renamed the Assyrian American Federation and the Assyrian American National Federation, from its founding in 1933 until 1975 when they adopted the current Assyrian flag.[6][7]

Alternate variations

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See also: Chaldean flag and Aramean-Syriac flag

Sometime between the 1990s and 2000s, a new flag was created that aimed to represent the Chaldean Catholic part of the Assyrian community.[11] The Chaldean flag bears a white background with two blue stripes on the left and right-hand sides, with a combination of the stars of Shamash and Ishtar in the middle. However, the flag has received criticism for its association with the Assyrian naming dispute and larger sectarianism in the Assyrian community, as well as a copyright[12] in place by the creator and a lawsuit involving Chaldean Catholic bishop Sarhad Yawsip Jammo.[13]

In 2017, the Syriac Union Party (Syria) and Syriac Military Council began using a new tri-colored flag to represent Assyrians in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.[14] However, the flag is considered unofficial and has rarely seen use outside of the party or Syria altogether.

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Variants

  • The Assyrian flag with the image of Assur in red (adopted in 1971)[15]
    The Assyrian flag with the image of Assur in red (adopted in 1971)[15]
  • The Assyrian flag with the image of Assur in shades of gold and blue, adopted by the Assyrian Universal Alliance[16]
    The Assyrian flag with the image of Assur in shades of gold and blue, adopted by the Assyrian Universal Alliance[16]
  • The Assyrian flag with the image of Assur in gold[17]
    The Assyrian flag with the image of Assur in gold[17]
  • The Assyrian flag without the image of Assur. This version has been used by the Nineveh Plain Protection Units.[18]
    The Assyrian flag without the image of Assur. This version has been used by the Nineveh Plain Protection Units.[18]

Alternative flags

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "List of all entries". www.assyrianlanguages.org.
  2. ^ a b "The History and Meaning Behind the Assyrian Flag". Assyrian Cultural Foundation. March 27, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  3. ^ Ashurian, Homer (February 17, 2009). "The Origins and Description of the Assyrian Flag". AUA.net. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  4. ^ "Assyrian Flag – Assyrian Universal Alliance". Archived from the original on February 17, 2009.
  5. ^ Samuel, Ramina; Ganjeh, Carlo; Bit-Dzhamo, Dalilya. "Real Assyrian Flag". RAF. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "The Old Assyrian Flag". Chaldeans On Line. Archived from the original on January 5, 2006. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  7. ^ a b AANF. "HISTORY". Assyrian American National Federation. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  8. ^ "Commemoration Picture of the Assyrian Delegations to the Peace Conference". Archived from the original on June 16, 2009.
  9. ^ Lindenmayer, Sarah (2018). Debt of Honour: How an Anzac saved the Assyrian people from Genocide. Australian Self Publishing Group. p. 21. ISBN 9780648317722. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  10. ^ S.G. SAVIGE. D.S.O., M.C. (1920). STALKY'S FORLORN HOPE. McCubbin.
  11. ^ "Chaldean Flag".
  12. ^ Amer Hanna Fatuhi. "Letter of Authorization". Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  13. ^ Amer Shendaj v. Chaldean Federation of America and Sarhad Jammo (United States District Court, Southern Division for Eastern District of Michigan January 3, 2002), Text
  14. ^ "الرايات السريانية تزين مدينة الحسكة". SUTORO (in Arabic). 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  15. ^ "Assyria". Crwflags.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  16. ^ "The Origins and Description of the Assyrian Flag" by Homer Ashurian, Assyrian Universal Alliance, 03-1999 Archived 17 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Kiwarkis, Gaby (April 23, 2010). "Assyrians Honor New Zealand War Hero, Dedicate Genocide Plaque". Assyrian International News Agency. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  18. ^ "NPU raised the Iraqi, Assyrian & NPU flags in Baghdedeh". Youtube. October 28, 2016. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  19. ^ "Syriac-Aramaic People (Syria)". Crwflags.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
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