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3 years ago === '''Chaldeans ... Over 7300 Years of Heritage & Civilization ~ Amer Hanna Fatuhi''' ===
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'''Who Are The Diehard Chaldeans?'''
As evidenced by historical documents and antiquities, Chaldeans, Native Iraqis, are descendants of the Proto-Kaldi, who built three of the earliest cities in southern Mesopotamia around 5300 BC, Eridu, Ur, and Uruk (Kulabba) during the Pre-Diluvian Dynasties.
Similarly, as indicated by tangible/historical discoveries and Biblical data, the two major states in ancient Mesopotamia were Babylonia / Sumer & Akkad in the south and center of Mesopotamia and Assyria in the north. Local inhabitants of both States were descendants of the Proto-Kaldi /Proto-Euphratians (Semites). Sumerian is a term that refers to another Proto-Kaldi Mesopotamians, who shared the land peacefully with the rest of the proto-Kaldi. Yet, they had the privilege to lead in the cultural field between 2900 to 2600 BC as well as between 2112 to 2004 BC. Over time, the sophisticated Sumerian culture intermingled with the culture of the majority of the Chaldean people / Ethnic group.
Although Chaldeans post-Christianity comes under three different designations, they represent one ethnicity. The national/ethnic name of Chaldeans/Kaldaie became commonly known after scholars used the Proto-Kaldi designation. "Eastern Syriacs" became the name of Chaldeans upon embracing Christianity in the First Century AD. Syriac is derived from the word Suraya/Suryaya, which literally means Christian. However, Syriac is used because Christianity was brought into Mesopotamia by the disciple St. Thomas through Syria.
As for "Aṭuraie" it was derived from the word Aṭurra which denotes Mountain. The name Aṭuraie was adopted by a small percentage of the Christian Chaldeans of the mountains who have converted to Nestorianism in the 5th century AD. This unfortunate group fled its homeland in the valley between the two rivers to the mountains of Turkey and Urmia following the Muslim invasion in the 7th century AD. Those people of the Mountain went through dramatic blending with the Indo-Europeans of Turkey and Iran. For political reasons, Aṭuraie abandoned their ancestors' ethnic name (Chaldean) late 19th century and officially adopted the 20th Century Assyrian Cult name in November 1976 in London, England, with strong encouragement from the British Anglican Church.
Chaldeans assert through Biblical references that they are descendants long list of ancient renowned Mesopotamians, including Father Abraham, who migrated from Ur of the Chaldeans to the promised- land (Gen. 12:1 & Gen. 15:7).
Furthermore, the most prominent line of kings and queens, i.e., Ga-Ur/Gura, before the great flood. After the great flood Meshalim and Sargon, the founder of the (first emperor in recorded history). Other amazing kings were Shamshi Adad I, Hammurabi, Mardukh-Apla-Iddin II / Merodach-Baladan, Napoalpauser, and Nebuchadnezzar II. Ku(g)-bau/Kubaba is the first known Queen in recorded history and Shummuramat/Semiramis, the Chaldean-born Queen of Assyria. She successfully Babylonized Assyria and endorsed Monotheism of worship by recognizing god Nabu (god of writing and knowledge) and son of the god of Babylon (Mardukh) as the only true god.
Our people ought to be proud of their forefathers, the founders of the most ancient and sophisticated civilization and the pioneers of human culture. For that reason, Mesopotamia is called the Land Of Firsts, and our Chaldean people the Timeless People.
'''Amer Fatuhi in a word'''
Amer Hanna Fatuhi, Ph.D., is a scholar in Mesopotamian History and Iraqi Natives & Minorities. He is also a professional writer/poet and a visual artist. Fatuhi studied history, fine arts, and engineering.
He also designed the Chaldean National Flag & Emblem in 1985 and won the 1986-2008 international contests to design the Iraqi National Flag.