CHALDEAN
The
Chaldeans (Syriac: Kaldaya), also known as Syriacs, Syrians, Arameans
(see names of Syriac Christians), are an ethnic group whose origins
lie in ancient Mesopotamia. They speak, read, and write distinct
dialects of Chaldean language Eastern Aramaic exclusive to Mesopotamia
and its immediate surroundings.
Today
that ancient territory is part of several nations: the north of
Iraq, part of southeast Turkey and northeast Syria. They are indigenous
to, and have traditionally lived all over what is now Iraq, northeast
Syria, northwest Iran, and southeastern Turkey. [better source
needed] Most Chaldeans speak an Eastern Aramaic language whose
subdivisions include Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, Chaldean and Kaldeya.
The
Chaldeans are a Christian people, most of them following various
Eastern Rite Churches. Divisions exist between the speakers of
Northeastern Neo-Aramaic, who mostly belong to the Chaldean Church
of the East, Ancient Church of the East and Chaldean Catholic
Church and have been historically concentrated in what is now
northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, and southeastern Turkey, and
speakers of Central Neo-Aramaic, who traditionally belong to the
Syriac Orthodox Church and Syriac Catholic Church and are indigenous
to what is now southern Turkey, northern Syria and northern Iraq.
Many
have migrated to the Caucasus, North America, Australia and Europe
during the past century or so. Diaspora and refugee communities
are based in Europe (particularly Sweden, Germany, Netherlands,
and France), North America, New Zealand, Lebanon, Armenia, Georgia,
southern Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan and Jordan.
Emigration
was triggered by such events as the Chaldean Genocide by the Ottoman
Empire during World War I, the Simele massacre in Iraq (1933),
the Islamic revolution in Iran (1979), Arab Nationalist Baathist
policies in Iraq and Syria, the Al-Anfal Campaign of Saddam Hussein,
and Kurdish nationalist policies in northern Iraq.
Most
recently, the Iraq War has displaced the regional Chaldean community,
as its people have faced ethnic and religious persecution at the
hands of Islamic extremists and Arab and Kurdish nationalists.
Of the one million or more Iraqis reported by the United Nations
to have fled Iraq since the occupation, nearly 40% are Chaldean,
although Chaldeans comprised around 3% of the pre-war Iraqi population.
According to a 2013 report by a Chaldean Syriac Popular Council
official, it is estimated that only 300,000 Chaldeans remain in
Iraq.
History
:
Early
history :
Old
Babylonian period (53th15th c. BC)
Aramaeans (14th9th c. BC)
Neo-Chaldean Empire (911612 BC)
Achaemenid Chaldea (539330 BC)
Classical
Antiquity :
Seleucid
Empire (31263 BC)
Osroene (132 BC 244 AD)
Syrian Wars (66 BC 217 AD)
Roman Syria (64 BC 637 AD)
Adiabene (15116 AD)
Roman Chaldea (116118)
Christianization (1st to 3rd c.)
Nestorian Schism (5th c.)
Asuristan (226651)
ByzantineSasanian wars (502628)
Middle
Ages :
Muslim
conquest of Syria (630s)
Abbasid rule (7501258)
Emirs of Mosul (9051383)
Buyid amirate of Iraq (9451055)
Principality of Antioch (10981268)
Ilkhanate Empire (12581335)
Jalayirid Sultanate (13351432)
Kara Koyunlu (13751468)
Aq Qoyunlu (14531501)
Modern
History :
Safavid
Empire (1508-1555)
Ottoman Empire (15551917)
Schism of 1552 (16th c.)
Massacres of Badr Khan (1840s)
Massacres of Diyarbakir (1895)
Rise of nationalism (19th c.)
Adana Massacre (1909)
Chaldean genocide (19141920)
Independence movement (since 1919)
Simele massacre (1933)
Post-Saddam Iraq (since 2003)
Arab
conquest :
The Chaldeans initially experienced some periods of religious
and cultural freedom interspersed with periods of severe religious
and ethnic persecution after Arab Islamic invasion and conquest
of the 7th century AD. As heirs to ancient Mesopotamian civilisation,
they also contributed hugely to the Arab Islamic Civilization
during the Umayyads and the Abbasids by translating works of Greek
philosophers to Syriac and afterwards to Arabic. They also excelled
in philosophy, science and theology (such as Tatian, Bar Daisan,
Babai the Great, Nestorius, Toma bar Yacoub etc.) and the personal
physicians of the Abbasid Caliphs were often Chaldean Christians
such as the long serving Bukhtishu dynasty.
However,
despite this, indigenous Chaldeans became second class citizens
in a greater Arab Islamic state, and those who resisted Arabization
and conversion to Islam were subject to severe religious, ethnic
and cultural discrimination, and had certain restrictions imposed
upon them. Chaldeans were excluded from specific duties and occupations
reserved for Muslims, they did not enjoy the same political rights
as Muslims, their word was not equal to that of a Muslim in legal
and civil matters, as Christians they were subject to payment
of a special tax (jizyah), they were banned from spreading their
religion further or building new churches in Muslim ruled lands,
but were also expected to adhere to the same laws of property,
contract and obligation as the Muslim Arabs.
As
non-Islamic proselytising was punishable by death under Sharia
law, the Chaldeans were forced into preaching in Transoxania,
Central Asia, India, Mongolia and China where they established
numerous churches. The Church of the East was considered to be
one of the major Christian powerhouses in the world, alongside
Latin Christianity in Europe and the Byzantine Empire.
From
the 7th century AD onwards Mesopotamia saw a steady influx of
Arabs, Kurds and other Iranian peoples, and later Turkic peoples,
and the indigenous population retaining native Mesopotamian culture,
identity, language, religion and customs were steadily marginalised
and gradually became a minority in their own homeland.
The
process of marginalisation was largely completed by the massacres
of indigenous Chaldean Christians and other non-Muslims in Mesopotamia
and its surrounds by Tamerlane the Mongol in the 14th century
AD, and it was from this point that the ancient Chaldean capital
of Assur was finally abandoned by Chaldeans.
However,
many Chaldean Christians survived the various massacres and pogroms,
and resisted the process of Arabization and Islamification, retaining
a distinct Mesopotamian identity, Mesopotamian Aramaic language
and written script. The modern Chaldeans, Syriac-Arameans or Chaldeans
of today are descendants of the indigenous inhabitants of Mesopotamia,
who refused to be converted to Islam or be culturally and linguistically
Arabized.
![](SyriacChurch-Mosul.jpg)
Celebration
at a Syriac Orthodox monastery in Mosul, Ottoman Syria, early
20th century
Culturally, ethnically and linguistically distinct from, although
both quite influencing on, and quite influenced by, their neighbours
in the Middle East—the Arabs, Persians, Kurds, Turks, Jews
and Armenians — the Chaldeans have endured much hardship
throughout their recent history as a result of religious and ethnic
persecution.
Mongolian
and Turkic rule :
The region came under the control of the Mongol Empire after the
fall of Baghdad in 1258. The Mongol khans were sympathetic with
Christians and did not harm them. The most prominent among them
was probably Isa, a diplomat, astrologer, and head of the Christian
affairs in the Yuan Dynasty in East Asia. He spent some time in
Persia under the Ilkhans. The 14th century AD massacres of Timur
in particular, devastated the Chaldean people. Timur's massacres
and pillages of all that was Christian drastically reduced their
existence. At the end of the reign of Timur, the Chaldean population
had almost been eradicated in many places. Toward the end of the
thirteenth century, Bar Hebraeus (or Bar-Abraya), the noted Chaldean
scholar and hierarch, found "much quietness" in his
diocese in Mesopotamia. Syria’s diocese, he wrote, was "wasted."
The
region was later controlled by Turkic tribes such as the Aq Qoyunlu
and Qara Qoyunlu. Seljuq and Arab emirates sought to extend their
rule over the region as well.
From
Iranian Safavid to confirmed Ottoman rule :
![](Chaldean_Genocide_memorial_Diyarbakir_Turkey.jpg)
Chaldean Genocide memorial Diyarbakir, Turkey
The Ottomans secured their control over Mesopotamia and Syria
in the first half of the 17th century following the Ottoman–Safavid
War (1623–39) and the resulting Treaty of Zuhab. Non-Muslims
were organised into millets. Syriac Christians, however, were
often considered one millet alongside Armenians until the 19th
century, when Nestorian, Syriac Orthodox and Chaldeans gained
that right as well.
A
religious schism amongs the Chaldeans took place in the mid to
late 16th century. Dissent over the hereditary succession within
the Chaldean Church of the East grew until 1552, when a group
of Chaldean bishops, from the northern regions of Amid and Salmas,
elected a priest, Mar Yohannan Sulaqa, as a rival patriarch. To
look for a bishop of metropolitan rank to consecrate him patriarch,
Sulaqa traveled to the pope in Rome and entered into communion
with the Catholic Church. In 1553 he was consecrated bishop and
elevated to the rank of patriarch taking the name of Mar Shimun
VIII. He was granted the title of "Patriarch of the Chaldeans,"
and his church was named the Church of Athura and Mosul.
Mar
Shimun VIII Yohannan Sulaqa returned to northern Mesopotamia in
the same year and fixed his seat in Amid. Before being put to
death by the partisans of the Church of the East patriarch of
Alqosh, he ordained five metropolitan bishops thus beginning a
new ecclesiastical hierarchy: the patriarchal line known as the
Shimun line. The area of influence of this patriarchate soon moved
from Amid east, fixing the See, after many places, in the isolated
Chaldean village of Qochanis. Although this new church eventually
drifted away from Rome by 1600 AD and reentered communion with
the Chaldean Church, the archbishop of Amid reinstated relations
with Rome in 1672 AD, giving birth to the modern Chaldean Catholic
Church.
In
the 1840s many of the Chaldeans living in the mountains of Hakkari
in the south eastern corner of the Ottoman Empire were massacred
by the Kurdish emirs of Hakkari and Bohtan.
Another
major massacre of Chaldeans (and Armenians) in the Ottoman Empire
occurred between 1894 and 1897 AD by Turkish troops and their
Kurdish allies during the rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. The motives
for these massacres were an attempt to reassert Pan-Islamism in
the Ottoman Empire, resentment at the comparative wealth of the
ancient indigenous Christian communities, and a fear that they
would attempt to secede from the tottering Ottoman Empire. Chaldeans
were massacred in Diyarbakir, Hasankeyef, Sivas and other parts
of Anatolia, by Sultan Abdul Hamid II. These attacks caused the
death of over thousands of Chaldeans and the forced "Ottomanisation"
of the inhabitants of 245 villages. The Turkish troops looted
the remains of the Chaldean settlements and these were later stolen
and occupied by Kurds. Unarmed Chaldean women and children were
raped, tortured and murdered.
World
War I and Aftermath :
The most significant recent persecution against the Chaldean population
was the Chaldean genocide which occurred during the First World
War. About 300,000 Chaldeans were estimated to have been slaughtered
by the armies of the Ottoman Empire and their Kurdish allies,
totalling up to two-thirds of the entire Chaldean population.
This led to a large-scale migration of Turkish-based Chaldean
people into countries such as Syria, Iran, and Iraq (where they
were to suffer further violent assaults at the hands of the Arabs
and Kurds), as well as other neighbouring countries in and around
the Middle East such as Armenia, Georgia and Russia.
In
reaction to the Chaldean Genocide and lured by British and Russian
promises of an independent nation, the Chaldeans led by Agha Petros
and Malik Khoshaba of the Bit-Tyari tribe, fought alongside the
allies against Ottoman evil forces. Despite being heavily outnumbered
and outgunned the Chaldeans fought successfully, scoring a number
of victories over the Turks and Kurds. This situation continued
until their Russian allies left the war, and Armenian resistance
broke, leaving the Chaldeans surrounded, isolated and cut off
from lines of supply.
Modern
history :
The majority of Chaldean living in what is today modern Turkey
were forced to flee to either Syria or Iraq after the Turkish
victory during the Turkish War of Independence.
The
Chaldean Levies were founded by the British in 1928, with ancient
Chaldean military rankings such as Rab-shakeh, Rab-talia and Tartan,
being revived for the first time in millennia for this force.
The Chaldeans were prized by the British rulers for their fighting
qualities, loyalty, bravery and discipline, and were used to help
the British put down insurrections among the Arabs and Kurds.
During World War II, eleven Chaldean companies saw action in Palestine
and another four served in Cyprus. The Parachute Company was attached
to the Royal Marine Commando and were involved in fighting in
Albania, Italy and Greece. The Chaldean Levies played a major
role in subduing the pro-Nazi Iraqi forces at the battle of Habbaniya
in 1941.
However,
this cooperation with the British was viewed with suspicion by
some leaders of the newly formed Kingdom of Iraq. The tension
reached its peak shortly after the formal declaration of independence
when hundreds of Chaldean civilians were massacred during the
Simele Massacre by the Iraqi Army in August 1933. The events lead
to the expulsion of Shimun XXIII Eshai the Catholicos Patriarch
of the Church of the East to the United States where resided until
his death in 1975.
The
Ba'ath Party seized power in Iraq and Syria in 1963, which introduced
laws that aimed at suppressing the Chaldean national identity,
the Arab Nationalist policies of the Ba'athists included renewed
attempts to forcibly "Arabize" the indigenous Chaldeans.
The giving of traditional Chaldean/Akkadian names and East Aramaic/Syriac
versions of Biblical names was banned, Chaldean schools, political
parties, churches and literature were repressed and Chaldeans
were heavily pressured into identifying as Arab Christians. The
Ba'athist government refused to recognise Chaldeans as an ethnic
group, and fostered divisions among the ethnic Chaldeans along
religious lines (e.g. Chaldean Church of the East vs Chaldean
Catholic Church vs Syriac Orthodox Church vs Chaldean Protestant).
The
al-Anfal Campaign of 1986–1989 in Iraq was predominantly
aimed at Kurds. However, 2,000 Chaldeans were murdered through
its gas campaigns; over 31 towns and villages and 25 Chaldean
monasteries and churches were razed to the ground; a number of
Chaldeans were murdered; others were deported to large cities,
and their land and homes then being appropriated by Arabs and
Kurds.
21st
Century :
Since the 2003 Iraq War social unrest and anarchy have resulted
in the unprovoked persecution of Chaldeans in Iraq, mostly by
Islamic extremists, (both Shia and Sunni), and to some degree
by Kurdish nationalists. In places such as Dora, a neighborhood
in southwestern Baghdad, the majority of its Chaldean population
has either fled abroad or to northern Iraq, or has been murdered.
Islamic
resentment over the United States' occupation of Iraq, and incidents
such as the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons and the Pope Benedict
XVI Islam controversy, have resulted in Muslims attacking Chaldean
Christian communities. Since the start of the Iraq war, at least
46 churches and monasteries have been bombed.
The
Syriac Military Council is an Chaldean/Syriac military organisation
in Syria. The establishment of the organisation was announced
on 8 January 2013. According to the Syriac Military Council the
goal of the organisation is to stand up for the national rights
of Syriacs and to protect the Syriac people in Syria. It intends
to work together with the other communities in Syria to change
the current government of Bashar al-Assad. The organisation will
fight mostly in the densely populated Syriac areas of the Governorates
of Aleppo, Damascus, Al-Hasakah, Latakia and Homs.
Demographics
:
Chaldean World Population
100,000500,000
50,000100,000
10,00050,000
Homeland
:
The Chaldeans are considered to be one of the indigenous people
in the Middle East. Their homeland was thought to be located in
the area around the Tigris and Euphrates. Chaldeans are traditionally
from Iraq, south eastern Turkey, north western Iran and north
eastern Syria. There is a significant Chaldean population in Syria,
where an estimated 877,000 Chaldeans live.
In
Tur Abdin, known as a homeland for Chaldeans, there are only 3000
left, and an estimated 25,000 in all of Turkey. After the 1915
Chaldean genocide many Chaldeans/Syriacs also fled into Lebanon,
Jordan, Iran, Iraq and into the Western world.
The
Chaldean/Syriac people can be divided along geographic, linguistic,
and denominational lines, the three main groups being :
Time
Period |
• |
The
"Western" or "Jacobite" group
of Syria, and central eastern Anatolia (Syriac
Orthodox Church & Syriac Catholic Church).
|
• |
The
"Eastern" group of Iraq, northeast Syria
south eastern Turkey, northwest Iran and Armenia
( Church of the East & Ancient Church of the
East). |
• |
The
"Chaldean Christian" or "Chaldean
Catholic"/Chaldo-Chaldean group of northern
and central Iraq, northern Iran, and eastern Anatolia
(Chaldean Catholic Church); Chaldean followers
of the Chaldean Catholic church make up the majority
of Iraqi Christian population since rejoining
to Catholicism from the Chaldean Church of the
East in the 16th century. |
|
Persecution :
Due to their Christian faith and ethnicity, the Chaldeans have
been persecuted since their adoption of Christianity. During the
reign of Yazdegerd I, Christians in Persia were viewed with suspicion
as potential Roman subversives, resulting in persecutions while
at the same time promoting Nestorian Christianity as a buffer
between the Churches of Rome and Persia. Persecutions and attempts
to impose Zoroastrianism continued during the reign of Yazdegerd
II.
During
the eras of Mongol rule under Genghis Khan and Timur, there was
indiscriminate slaughter of tens of thousands of Chaldeans and
destruction of the Chaldean population of northwestern Iran and
central and northern Iran.
More
recent persecutions since the 19th century include the Massacres
of Badr Khan, the Massacres of Diyarbakir (1895), the Adana Massacre,
the Chaldean Genocide, the Simele Massacre, and the al-Anfal Campaign.
Chaldean Diaspora :
Since the Chaldean genocide, many Chaldeans have fled their homelands
for a more safe and comfortable life in the West. Since the beginning
of the 20th century, the Chaldean population in the Middle East
has decreased dramatically. As of today there are more Chaldeans
in Europe, North America, and Australia than in their naive homeland
of Mesopotamia, also known as Iraq, Syria and Southern Turkey.
Read more about the Chaldean Diaspora.
A
total of 550,000 Chaldeans live in Europe. Large Chaldean and
Syriac diaspora communities can be found in Germany, France, Belgium,
Sweden, the USA, and Australia. The largest Chaldean and Syriac
diaspora communities are those of Michigan and California.
Chaldean
Identity :
![](Chaldean_Flag.jpg)
Chaldean
Nation flag
Chaldeans
have several churches. They speak, and many can read and write,
dialects of Chaldean Neo-Aramaic.
In
certain areas of the Chaldean homeland, identity within a community
depends on a person's village of origin (see List of Chaldean
villages) or Christian denomination rather than their Chaldean
ethnic commonality, for instance Chaldean Catholic.
Neo-Aramaic
exhibits remarkably conservative features compared with Imperial
Aramaic.
Other
Related Self-designation :
The communities of indigenous Chaldean Neo-Aramaic-speaking people
of Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Iran, Turkey and Lebanon and
the surrounding areas advocate different terms for ethnic self-designation.
Time
Period |
• |
"Chaldeans",
after the ancient Mesopotamia, are mostly followers
of the Chaldean Church of the East or Chaldean
Nestorian, the Ancient Church of the East, followers
of the Chaldean Catholic Church and Chaldean non
Catholics. ("Chaldeans"), and some communities
of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Syriac Catholic
Church ("Chaldeans"). Those identifying
with Chaldea, and with Mesopotamia in general,
tend to be from Iraq, northeastern Syria; southeastern
Turkey, Iran, Armenia, Georgia; southern Russia
and Azerbaijan. They are indeed of Chaldean/Mesopotamian
heritage as they are clearly of pre-Arab and pre-Islamic
stock. Furthermore, there is no historical evidence
or proof to suggest the indigenous Mesopotamians
were wiped out; Chaldea existed as a specifically
named region until the second half of the 7th
century AD. Most speak Chaldean and the Mesopotamian
dialects of Neo-Aramaic. Chaldean nationalism
emphatically connects Modern Chaldeans to the
population of ancient Mesopotamia and the Neo-Chaldean
Empire. A historical basis of this sentiment was
disputed by a few early historians, but receives
strong support from modern Sumeriologists like
Robert D. Biggs and Giorgi Tsereteli. |
• |
"Chaldeans",
after ancient Chaldea, are followers of the Chaldean
Catholic Church who are mainly based in Mesopotamia
Iraq and reside in many global countries such
as the United States. Chaldean is a distinct Chaldean
ethnic and native identity of Mesopotamia. |
• |
"Syriacs",
advocated by followers of the Syriac Orthodox
Church, Syriac Catholic Church and to a much lesser
degree Maronite Church. Those self identifying
as Syriacs tend to be from Syria as well as south
central Turkey. The term Syriac is the subject
of some controversy, as it is generally accepted
by most scholars that it is a Luwian and Greek.
The discovery of the Çineköy inscription
seems to settle conclusively in favour of Chaldean
being the origin of the terms Syria and Syriac.
However, Poseidonios (ca. 135 BC – 51 BC),
from the Syrian Apamea, was a Greek Stoic philosopher,
politician, astronomer, geographer, historian,
and teacher who says that the Syrians call themselves
Arameans. At the same time historians, geographers
and philosophers like Herodotos, Strabo, and Justinus
mention that Chaldeans were afterwards called
Syrians. |
• |
"Arameans",
after the ancient Aram-Naharaim, advocated by
some followers of the Syriac Orthodox Church and
Syriac Catholic Church in western, northwestern,
southern and central Syria as well as south central
Turkey. The term Aramean is sometimes expanded
to "Syriac-Aramean". |
|
In addition Western Media often makes no mention of any ethnic
identity of the Christian people of the region and simply call
them Christians, Iraqi Christians, Iranian Christians, Syrian
Christians, Turkish Christians, etc. This label is rejected by
Chaldeans/Chaldeans/Syriacs since it erroneously implies no difference
other than theological with the Muslim Arabs, Kurds, Turks, Iranians
and Azeris of the region.
Chaldean
and Syriac or Syrian are Same People :
As early as the 8th century BC Luwian and Cilician subject rulers
referred to their Chaldean overlords as Syrian, a western Indo-European
bastardisation of the true term Chaldean. This corruption of the
name took hold in the Hellenic lands to the west of the Chaldean
Babylonian Empire, thus during Greek Seleucid rule from 323 BC
the name Chaldea was altered to Syria, and this term was also
applied to Aramea to the west which had been an Chaldean colony.
When the Seleucids lost control of Chaldea to the Parthians they
retained the corrupted term (Syria), applying it to ancient Aramea,
while the Parthians called Chaldea, a Parthian form of the original
name. It is from this period that the Syrian vs Chaldean controversy
arises. Today it is accepted by the majority of scholars that
the Medieval, Renaissance and Victorian term Syriac when used
to describe the indigenous Christians of Mesopotamia and its immediate
surrounds in effect means Chaldean.
The
modern terminological problem goes back to colonial times, but
it became more acute in 1946, when with the independence of Syria,
the adjective Syrian referred to an independent state. The controversy
isn't restricted to exonyms like English "Chaldean"
vs. "Aramaean", but also applies to self-designation
in Neo-Aramaic, the minority "Aramaean" faction endorses
both Suryaye and Aramaye.
![](Iraqvillagealqosh.jpg)
Alqosh
of the Chaldeans, located in the midst of Chaldean contemporary
civilization
The question of ethnic identity and self-designation is sometimes
connected to the scholarly debate on the etymology of "Syria".
The question has a long history of academic controversy, but majority
mainstream opinion currently strongly favours that Syria is indeed
ultimately derived from the Chaldean term Kaldaya. Meanwhile,
some scholars has disclaimed the theory of Syrian being derived
from Chaldean as "simply naive", and detracted its importance
to the naming conflict.
Rudolf
Macuch points out that the Eastern Neo-Aramaic press initially
used the term "Syrian" (suryêta) and only much
later, with the rise of nationalism, switched to "Chaldean"
(atorêta). According to Tsereteli, however, a Georgian equivalent
of "Chaldeans" appears in ancient Georgian, Armenian
and Russian documents. This correlates with the theory of the
nations to the East of Mesopotamia knew the group as Chaldeans,
while to the West, beginning with Greek influence, the group was
known as Syrians. Syria being a Greek corruption of Chaldea.
The
debate appears to have been settled by the discovery of the Çineköy
inscription in favour of Syria being derived from Chaldea.
The
Çineköy inscription is a Hieroglyphic Luwian-Phoenician
bilingual, uncovered from Çineköy, Adana Province,
Turkey (ancient Cilicia), dating to the 8th century BC. Originally
published by Tekoglu and Lemaire (2000), it was more recently
the subject of a 2006 paper published in the Journal of Near Eastern
Studies, in which the author, Robert Rollinger, lends support
to the age-old debate of the name "Syria" being derived
from "Chaldea" (see Etymology of Syria).
The
object on which the inscription is found is a monument belonging
to Urikki, vassal king of Hiyawa (i.e., Cilicia), dating to the
eighth century BC. In this monumental inscription, Urikki made
reference to the relationship between his kingdom and his Chaldean
overlords. The Luwian inscription reads "Sura/i" whereas
the Phoenician translation reads ’ŠR or "Ashur"
which, according to Rollinger (2006), "settles the problem
once and for all".
Culture
:
![](542px-Chaldean_Fashion_Models_with_Chaldean_Flag.jpg)
Chaldean
Fashion Models with Chaldean Flag
![](Chaldean_Fashion_of_the_Chaldean_Nation.jpg)
Chaldean
Fashion of the Chaldean Nation
Chaldean culture is largely influenced by Christianity. Main festivals
occur during religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas.
There are also secular holidays such as Kha b-Nisan (vernal equinox).
People
often greet and bid relatives farewell with a kiss on each cheek
and by saying Shlama/Shlomo lokh, which means: "Peace be
upon you." Others are greeted with a handshake with the right
hand only; according to Middle Eastern customs, the left hand
is associated with evil. Similarly, shoes may not be left facing
up, one may not have their feet facing anyone directly, whistling
at night is thought to waken evil spirits, etc.
There
are many Chaldean customs that are common in other Middle Eastern
cultures. A parent will often place an eye pendant on their baby
to prevent "an evil eye being cast upon it". Spitting
on anyone or their belongings is seen as a grave insult.
Language
:
The
Chaldean Language is native language of [Mesopotamia | Mesopotamia],
the lingua franca in the later phase of the Neo- Chaldean Empire,
displacing the East Semitic Chaldean dialect of Akkadian. Aramaic
was the language of commerce, trade and communication and became
the vernacular language of Chaldea in classical antiquity.
By
the 1st century AD, Akkadian was extinct, although some loaned
vocabulary still survives in Chaldean Neo-Aramaic to this day.
To
the native Chaldean speaker, "Chaldean Langauge" and
"Syriac" is usually called Soureth or Suret. A wide
variety of dialects exist, including Chaldean Neo-Aramaic. All
are classified as Chaldean Neo-Aramaic languages and are written
using Chaldean script. Chaldeans also may speak one or more languages
of their country of residence. Being stateless, Chaldeans also
learn the language or languages of their adopted country, usually
Arabic, Armenian, Persian or Turkish. In northern Iraq and western
Iran, Turkish and Kurdish is widely spoken.
Recent
archaeological evidence includes a statue from Syria with Akkadian
and Aramaic inscriptions. It is the oldest known Aramaic text.
Religion
:
![](640px-Syriac_Christian_denominations.svg.jpg)
Historical
branches of the Chaldean and Syriac Christian Churches in the
Middle East
Since the beginning of Christianity in 30 AD, Chaldeans are the
first Christians of the world. Chaldeans currently belong to various
Christian denominations such as the Church of the East, with an
estimated 500,000 members, the Chaldean Catholic Church, with
about 1,500,000 members, and the Syriac Orthodox Church (Idto
Suryoyto Trisat Šubho), which has between 1,000,000 and 4,000,000
members around the world (only some of whom are Chaldeans), the
Ancient Church of the East with some 100,000 members, and various
Protestant churches, such as the Pentecostal Church with 25,000
adherents, and the Evangelical Church. While Chaldeans are predominantly
Christians, a number are irreligious.
As
of 2015 Mar Louis Sako, resident in Baghdad Iraq, was Patriarch
of the Chaldeans Catholic Church, Mar Addai II, with headquarters
in Baghdad, was Patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East, and
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas was Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church,
with headquarters in Damascus. Mar Emmanuel III Delly, the former
Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, was the first Patriarch
to be elevated to Cardinal, joining the college of cardinals in
November 2007.
Many
members of the following churches consider themselves Chaldean.
Ethnic identities are often deeply intertwined with religion,
a legacy of the Ottoman Millet system. The group is traditionally
characterized as adhering to various churches of Syriac Christianity
and speaking Neo-Aramaic languages. It is subdivided into :
Time
Period |
• |
Adherents
of the East Syrian Rite also known as Nestorians |
|
• |
Adherents
of the Church of the East & Ancient Church
of the East |
|
• |
adherents
of the Chaldean Catholic Church |
• |
Adherents
of the West Syrian Rite also known as Jacobites |
|
• |
Adherents
of the Syriac Orthodox Church |
|
A small minority of Chaldeans of the above denominations accepted
the Protestant Reformation in the 20th century, possibly due to
British influences, and is now organized in the Evangelical Church,
the Pentecostal Church and other Protestant Chaldean groups.
Baptism
and First Communion are celebrated extensively, similar to a Bris
or Bar Mitzvah in Jewish communities. After a death, a gathering
is held three days after burial to celebrate the ascension to
heaven of the dead person, as of Jesus; after seven days another
gathering commemorates their death. A close family member wears
only black clothes for forty days and nights, or sometimes a year,
as a sign of mourning.
Music
:
![](Chaldean_Music.jpg)
Chaldean
Folk Music since 5,300 BC
The abooba (basic flute) and tavla (large two-sided drum) became
the most common musical instruments for tribal music. Some well
known Chaldean/Syriac singers in modern times are Majid Kekka,
Sargon Gabriel, Habib Mousa, Josef Özer, Janan Sawa, Klodia
Hanna, Juliana Jendo.
The
first International Chaldean Music Festival was held in Lebanon
from 1 August until 4 August 2008 for Chaldean people internationally.
Chaldeans are also involved in western contemporary music, such
as Rock/Metal (Melechesh), Rap (Timz) and Techno/Dance (Aril Brikha).
Dance :
![](640px-CHALDEAN-FESTIVAL-2.jpg)
Chaldean
Debka Dance
Chaldeans have numerous traditional dances which are performed
mostly for special occasions such as weddings. Chaldean dance
is a blend of both ancient indigenous and general near eastern
elements.
Festivals
:
![](WEBBabylonDay4.jpg)
Chaldean
Debka Dance
Chaldean festivals tend to be closely associated with their Christian
faith, of which Easter is the most prominent of the celebrations.
Chaldean/Syriac members of the Chaldean Church of the East, Chaldean
Catholic Church and Syriac Catholic Church follow the Gregorian
calendar and as a result celebrate Easter on a Sunday between
March 22 and April 25 inclusively. While Chaldean/Syriac members
of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Ancient Church of the East celebrate
Easter on a Sunday between April 4 and May 8 inclusively on the
Gregorian calendar (March 22 and April 25 on the Julian calendar).
During Lent Chaldean/Syriacs are encouraged to fast for 50 days
from meat and any other foods which are animal based.
Chaldeans
celebrate a number of festivals unique to their culture and traditions
as well as religious ones :
Time
Period |
• |
Kha
b-Nisan, the Chaldean new year (AKA AKITU), traditionally
on April 1, though usually celebrated on January
1. Chaldeans usually wear traditional costumes
and hold social events including parades and parties,
dancing, and listening to poets telling the story
of creation. |
• |
Sauma
d-Ba'utha, the Nineveh fast. It is a three-day
period of fasting and prayer. |
• |
Somikka,
the Chaldean version of Halloween, traditionally
meant to scare children into fasting during Lent. |
• |
Sharra
d'Mart Maryam, usually on August 15, a festival
and feast celebrating St. Mary with games, food,
and celebration. |
• |
Other
Sharras (special festivals) include: Sharra d'Mart
Shmuni, Sharra d'Mar Shimon Bar-Sabbaye, Sharra
d'Mar Mari, and Shara d'Mar Zaia, Mar Bishu, Mar
Sawa, Mar Sliwa, and Mar Odisho. |
• |
Yoma
d'Sah'deh (Day of Martyrs), commemorating the thousands
massacred in the Simele Massacre and the hundreds
of thousands massacred in the Chaldean Genocide.
|
|
Chaldeans also practice unique marriage ceremonies. The rituals
performed during weddings are derived from many different elements
from the past 7,300 years. An Chaldean wedding traditionally lasted
a week. Today, weddings in the Chaldean homeland usually last
2–3 days; in the Chaldean diaspora they last 1–2 days.
Traditional
clothing :
![](425px-Chaldean_Fashion.jpg)
Chaldean
Fashion from Chaldean Town of Telkeppe
Chaldean clothing varies from village to village. Clothing is
usually blue, red, green, yellow, and purple; these colors are
also used as embroidery on a white piece of clothing. Decoration
is lavish in Chaldean costumes, and sometimes involves jewellery.
The conical hats of traditional Chaldean dress have changed little
over millennia from those worn in ancient Mesopotamia, and until
the 19th and early 20th centuries the ancient Mesopotamian tradition
of braiding or platting of hair, beards and moustaches was still
common place.
Cuisine
:
![](640px-Chaldean_Food.jpg)
Beautiful Chaldean Food for Everyone
Chaldean cuisine is similar to other Middle Eastern cuisines.
It is rich in grain, meat, potato, cheese, bread and tomato. Typically
rice is served with every meal, with a stew poured over it. Tea
is a popular drink, and there are several dishes of desserts,
snacks, and beverages. Alcoholic drinks such as wine and wheat
beer are organically produced and drunk.
Source
:
https://chaldeanwiki.com/
Chaldean_people