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The four stars at the base of the winged sun symbol are present in the original relief.<ref>[http://www.allposters.de/gallery.asp?aid=45088&item=1345453&Referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fmobposters%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ephp%3Fitem%3D1345453&SAID=45088&SAIDTime=8%2F22%2F2007+2%3A58%3A52+AM&maid=45088&AffClickThroughID=1043716415&apc%2Daidc=45088&ap%2Daide=45088&ap%2Daidedate=8%2F22%2F2007+2%3A58%3A52+AM All-Posters]</ref> In the flag, they are taken as symbolizing the four rivers [[Euphrates]], [[Tigris]], [[Pishon]] and [[Gihon]].<ref>http://www.aram-world.com/aramaeer.php {{Verify credibility|date=August 2007}}</ref><ref>http://www.muenster.de/~s_hanna/frames/fahne.htm {{Verify credibility|date=August 2007}}</ref>
The four stars at the base of the winged sun symbol are present in the original relief.<ref>[http://www.allposters.de/gallery.asp?aid=45088&item=1345453&Referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fmobposters%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ephp%3Fitem%3D1345453&SAID=45088&SAIDTime=8%2F22%2F2007+2%3A58%3A52+AM&maid=45088&AffClickThroughID=1043716415&apc%2Daidc=45088&ap%2Daide=45088&ap%2Daidedate=8%2F22%2F2007+2%3A58%3A52+AM All-Posters]</ref> In the flag, they are taken as symbolizing the four rivers [[Euphrates]], [[Tigris]], [[Pishon]] and [[Gihon]].<ref>http://www.aram-world.com/aramaeer.php {{Verify credibility|date=August 2007}}</ref><ref>http://www.muenster.de/~s_hanna/frames/fahne.htm {{Verify credibility|date=August 2007}}</ref>


The flag of the "Aramaic Democratic Organisation" has a similar design. The [[Assyrian flag]] by contrast shows a [[Faravahar]] symbol, the Zoroastrian version of the "winged sun", with the sun replaced by a human head.
The flag of the "Aramaic Democratic Organisation" has a similar design. The [[Assyrian flag]] by contrast depicts a Winged Disc emblem of Ashur similar to the [[Persian Art|Persian]] [[Faravahar]], the Zoroastrian version of the "winged sun", but instead with the sun replaced by a human head.


Many Western Assyrians use the [[Assyrian flag]] rather than the Aramaean flag.<ref>http://www.auf.nu/aufalbum.php?albumid=3137</ref>
Many Western Assyrians use the [[Assyrian flag]] rather than the Aramaean flag.<ref>http://www.auf.nu/aufalbum.php?albumid=3137</ref>

Revision as of 08:25, 6 September 2007

Western Assyrians
ܣܘܪܝܝܐ Sūryayē / ܐܪܡܝܐ Āramayē
Total population
ca. 0.3-1.0 million[1]
Regions with significant populations
 Syriaca. 100,000-800,000
 United States80,000
 Sweden80,000[2]
 Germany50,000
Languages
Turoyo, Syriac
Religion
Syriac Orthodox Church, Syriac Catholic Church
Related ethnic groups
Eastern Assyrians, Chaldean Assyrians, and other Assyrian ethnic divisions

Western Assyrians (also known as Syriac-Aramaic people, Jacobites, after Jacob Baradaeus, and Suryoye Othoroye) consist of members of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Syriac Catholic Church, forming a subset of the Assyrian people.[3][4] They speak the Neo-Aramaic dialect, called Turoyo. In Sweden, the Syriac Assyrians have created the soccer team Assyriska, which is seen as a substitute national soccer team for all Assyrians in the Assyrian diaspora, because it managed to enter the top divisional league, Allsvenskan.[5] They have also, created other variously successful soccer teams known as Syrianska. The Syriac Assyrians in Sweden, are also behind Assyrian news websites, like Hujådå.com and Esna.se

Among the Syriac Assyrians in Sweden, and also to some extent, in Germany there is a naming dispute, with one faction rejecting the "Assyrian" self designation, opting for "Aramaean" instead, a view promoted by the Syriac Catholic/Orthodox Churches.[6] Syriacs and other Assyrians, are the same people.[2]

The majority of Assyrians in Sweden, are Syriac Orthodox.[4] A notable Syriac Assyrian, is Naum Faiq, who was an Assyrian nationalist in the early 20th century, and founded an Assyrian magazine, "Hoyodo", which is still today, published by Syriac Assyrians in Sweden, on the Internet.[7]

There are 680,000 Syriac Orthodox in Syria and 5,000 in Turkey (numbers in Iraq, Lebanon and Israel are unknown). In diaspora, there are 70,000 adherents in Germany, 80,000 in Sweden,[2] 15,000 in the Netherlands and others in North and South America and Australia. The total number of Syriac Orthodox adherents is estimated at about 750,000. The Syriac Catholic Church has about 150,000 adherents altogether.

Assyrian nationalism developed among the Western Assyrians, during the early 20th century.[8]

Flag

Syriac-Aramaic flag

The Aramaean flag displays a yellow winged sun symbol (the sun replaced with a torch), often interpreted as an "eagle", in a red field. It is based on the design of a 9th c. BC stele erected by king Kapara of Guzana (now kept in an Aleppo museum). The sun has been replaced by a torch symbolizing the Christian Holy Spirit. The four stars at the base of the winged sun symbol are present in the original relief.[9] In the flag, they are taken as symbolizing the four rivers Euphrates, Tigris, Pishon and Gihon.[10][11]

The flag of the "Aramaic Democratic Organisation" has a similar design. The Assyrian flag by contrast depicts a Winged Disc emblem of Ashur similar to the Persian Faravahar, the Zoroastrian version of the "winged sun", but instead with the sun replaced by a human head.

Many Western Assyrians use the Assyrian flag rather than the Aramaean flag.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ adherents.com estimates.
  2. ^ a b c Hansson, Matilda. "Nu visar vi världen vilka vi är" (HTML) (in Swedish). SvD, Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 2005-04-10. Syrianer och assyrier är egentligen samma folk, med ett språk, en religion och rötter i samma länder: Turkiet, Irak, Iran, Libanon och Syrien. Medan syrianerna definierar sig utifrån sin tro, syrisk-ortodox kristendom, betraktar assyrierna sig som en folkgrupp, både etniskt och religiöst. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Parpola, Simo (April 2003). "Assyrian Identity in Ancient Times and Today" (PDF). Journal of Assyrian Academic Studies. p. 18. Today, the Assyrian nation largely lives in diaspora, split into rivaling churches and political factions. The fortunes of the people that constitute it have gone different ways over the millennia, and their identities have changed accordingly. The Syriacs in the west have absorbed many influences from the Greeks, while the Assyrians in the east have since ancient times been under Iranian cultural influence. Ironically, as members of the Chaldean Catholic Church (established in 1553 but effectively only in 1830), many modern Assyrians originating from central Assyria now identify with "Chaldeans", a term associated with the Syriac language in the 16th century but ultimately derived from the name of the dynasty that destroyed Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire! Disunited, dispersed in exile, and as dwindling minorities without full civil rights in their homelands, the Assyrians of today are in grave danger of total assimilation and extinction (April 2003). In order to survive as a nation, they must now unite under the Assyrian identity of their ancestors. It is the only identity that can help them to transcend the differences between them, speak with one voice again, catch the attention of the world, and regain their place among the nations. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b Lundberg, Dan. "A virtual Assyria: Christians from the Middle East" (HTML). The dividing line in Sweden between Syrians and Assyrians lies between the religiously defined group: Syrians, who are Syrian Orthodox Christians, and the politically or ethnically determined category: Assyrians, whose members belong to several different Christian beliefs (the majority are of course also Syrian Orthodox Christians) but whose religious affiliation is toned down. In Sweden the Syrian Orthodox Christians are in an overwhelming majority among the Assyrians. Of the ca. 50,000 Assyrians /Syrians (Atman 1996) living in Sweden today they constitute more than 90%. The Nestorians are estimated to be a couple of thousand and constitute the next largest group. Other groups are therefore relatively small. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ "Assyriska har blivit hela världens landslag" (in Swedish). DN. Retrieved 2003-10-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ http://sor.cua.edu/Pub/BrockHPearl/index.html
  7. ^ http://www.hujada.se
  8. ^ DeKelaita, Robert. "The Origins and Development of Assyrian Nationalism" (PDF). p. 19. Although Assyrian nationalistic sentiments were more prevalent among the Nestorians (particularly those in Urmia) than among Chaldeans and Jacobites, nationalists were to be found among the latter as well. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); line feed character in |quote= at position 84 (help)
  9. ^ All-Posters
  10. ^ http://www.aram-world.com/aramaeer.php [unreliable source?]
  11. ^ http://www.muenster.de/~s_hanna/frames/fahne.htm [unreliable source?]
  12. ^ http://www.auf.nu/aufalbum.php?albumid=3137
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