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| − | == Chaldean Identity ==
| + | Chaldean National Flag |
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| − | [[File:Chaldean Flag.jpg|thumb|[[Chaldean Nation flag]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kaldaya.net/2010/News/04/April01_2010_E3_Akitu7310_TripToElMontePark.html |title=Chaldea |publisher=kaldaya.net |accessdate=2008-11-16| archiveurl=http://www.kaldaya.net/2010/News/04/April01_2010_E3_Akitu7310_TripToElMontePark.html| archivedate=12 October 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl=no}}</ref>]]
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| | + | [[File:Chaldean Flag.jpg|thumb | Chaldean Nation flag]] |
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| − | Chaldeans have several churches (see below). They speak, and many can read and write, dialects of [[Chaldean language|Chaldean Neo-Aramaic]].<ref>Florian Coulmas, ''The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writing Systems'' 23 (1996)</ref>
| + | The Word Chaldean comprises the native people of ancient Mesopotamia who are nationally Babylonian religiously Christian (Syriac or Surayeh)/ethnically Chaldean. |
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| − | 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 | Chaldean]] ethnic commonality, for instance [[Chaldean Catholic]].
| + | The [[Chaldean Flag]] in 1985: |
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| − | Neo-Aramaic exhibits remarkably conservative features compared with [[Imperial Aramaic]].<ref>J.G. Browne, "The Chaldeans", ''Journal of the Royal Society of Arts'' 85 (1937)</ref>
| + | The two blue vertical lines (1987 versions and on) represent the eternal rivers Tigris and Euphrates which spring from the north and flow into the south of the Mesopotamian Land (The Chaldean Gulf/Tam-Ti-Sha-Mat-Kaldi) in the ancient Kaldee Babylonian language. |
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| − | === Other Related Self-designation ===
| + | The sun (Eightfold Star) represents the Babylonians' symbol of Law and Justice, the two internal circles Yellow (Sun), Blue (Moon) representing the Chaldeans Babylonians' cultural contributions to the human history especially in Astronomy and Math. The eightfold sun is designed in the Mesopotamian Chaldean style, which goes back to 4100 BC proto-Chaldean's pictograph symbols. |
| − | {{Main|Chaldean Names of Syriac Christians}}
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| − | The communities of indigenous pre-Arab 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. | + | |
| − | * "Chaldeans", after the ancient [[Mesopotamia]], advocated by followers of the [[Chaldean Church of the East]], the [[Ancient Church of the East]], followers of the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]] and Chaldean [[non Catholics]]. ("Chaldeans"),<ref name="Catholic Encyclopaedia">[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05230a.htm "Eastern Churches"], ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'', see "Eastern Syrians" and "Western Syrians" respectively. Modern terminology within the group is Western Chaldeans and Eastern Chaldeans respectively, while those who reject the Chaldean identity opt for Syriacs or Aramean rather than Chaldean.</ref> 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]]. It is likely that those from this region 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,<ref>{{cite web|title=Early History of Chaldea to 5300 B.C.|url=http://www.kaldaya.net/Articles/500/Atricle575_Sep12_07_Chaldean.html|year=2005|quote=The survival of the Chaldean people will always remain a unique and striking phenomenon in ancient history. Other, similar kingdoms and empires have indeed passed away but the people have lived on. ... No other land seems to have been sacked and pillaged so completely as was Chaldea .}}</ref> but receives strong support from modern [[Sumeriologists]] like Robert D. Biggs and Giorgi Tsereteli <ref>{{cite journal |author=Biggs, Robert |year=2005 |title=My Career in Sumeriology and Near Eastern Archaeology |journal=[[Journal of Chaldean Academic Studies]] |volume=19 |issue=1 |publisher=<!-- Oriental Institute, University of Chicago† -->|url=http://www.kaldaya.net/2010/News/04/April01_2010_E3_Akitu7310_TripToElMontePark.html |format=HTML |authorlink=Kaldaya.net}} pp. 10, "Especially in view of the very early establishment of Christianity in Chaldea and its continuity to the present and the continuity of the population, I think there is every likelihood that ancient Chaldeans are among the ancestors of modern Chaldeans of the area." </ref>
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| − | * "[[Chaldean Christians|Chaldeans]]", after ancient [[Chaldea]], advocated by some followers of the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]] who are mainly based in the [[United States]]. This is mainly a denominational rather than ethnic term, though some Chaldean Catholics espouse a distinct Chaldean ethnic identity. It is likely that these are exactly the same people as the Chaldeans, both having the same culture and originating from the same lands.<ref>{{ }}</ref>
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| − | * "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 [[Greeks|Greek]] corruption of Chaldean. The discovery of the [[Çineköy inscription]] seems to settle conclusively in favour of Chaldea being the origin of the terms Syria and Syriac. For this reason, some Chaldeans accept the term Syriac as well as Chaldean. However, [[Poseidonios]] (ca. 135 BC – 51 BC), from the Syrian [[Apamea, Syria|Apamea]], was a Greek Stoic philosopher, politician, astronomer, geographer, historian, and teacher who says that the Syrians call themselves Arameans.{{#tag:ref|"The people we Greek call Syriacs, they call themselves Arameans". (See J.G. Kidd, Posidonius (Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries, 1988), vol. 2, pt. 2, pp. 955-956)|group=nb}}. At the same time historians, geographers and philosophers like Herodotos, Strabo, and Justinus mention that Chaldeans were afterwards called Syrians.{{#tag:ref|"This, people, whom the Greeks call Syrians, are called Chaldeans by the barbarians." "The Chaldeans, who were afterwards called Syrians, held their empire thirteen hundred years." (See John Gill (A Collection of Sermons and Tracts), vol. 3, pp. 487)|group=nb}}.
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| − | * "[[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".
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| − | 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.
| + | To get the Chaldean flag in many sizes, |
| | + | forms and makes, kindly visit the Chaldean Gift Shop, |
| | + | which is located in Ferndale, |
| | + | or simply visit the main page (Flag4Us) at: |
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| − | === Chaldean vs. Syrian naming controversy ===
| + | www.bostudio4arts.com |
| − | 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 ''Chaldan''.
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| − | This corruption of the name took hold in the Hellenic lands to the west of the Chaldean Empire, thus during [[Greeks|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.<ref>{{cite web|http://www.kaldaya.net/Articles/500/Atricle575_Sep12_07_Chaldean.html |title=Who are the Chaldeans |publisher=Kaldaya.net|date=2007-09-07 |accessdate=2013-09-18}}</ref>
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| − | 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 ''Sūryāyē'' {{lang|syr|ܣܘܪܝܝܐ}} and ''Ārāmayē'' {{lang|syr|ܐܪܡܝܐ}} | + | The CHALDEAN NATIONAL EMBLEM 1997: |
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| − | [[File:Iraqvillagealqosh.JPG|thumb|left|200ppx|[[Alqosh of the Chaldeans]], located in the midst of Chaldean contemporary civilization.]]
| + | The sun (Eightfold Star) refers to the aforementioned definitions of the Flag. The Spouting Vase (The Life Spring) of the Emblem is a Mesopotamian Proto-Chaldean's symbol that refers to fertility, renewal, and growth. So here the vessel stands for the Land of the two rivers, whereas the two right and left currents represent the Tigris and the Euphrates. |
| − | The question of ethnic identity and self-designation is sometimes connected to the scholarly debate on the [[Syria (etymology)|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 𒀸𒋗𒁺 𐎹 '''''Kaldaya'''''.<ref name="Who are the Chaldeans" /><ref name="Chaldean">{{cite journal |author=Rollinger, Robert |year=2006 |title=Chaldean History |journal=[[Journal of Near Eastern Studies]] |volume=65 |issue=4 |pages=283–287 |publisher=<!-- University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, ETATS-UNIS (1942) (Revue) --> |doi=10.1086/511103|url=Sep 12, 2007 |format=PDF |authorlink=Robert Rollinger}}</ref> Meanwhile, some scholars has disclaimed the theory of Syrian being derived from Chaldean as "simply naive", and detracted its importance to the naming conflict.<ref>''Festschrift Philologica Constantino Tsereteli Dicta'', ed. Silvio Zaorani (Turin, 1993), pp. 106–107</ref> | + | |
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| − | 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'').<ref>Rudolf Macuch, ''Geschichte der spät- und neusyrischen Literatur'', New York: de Gruyter, 1976.</ref> According to Tsereteli, however, a [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] equivalent of "Chaldeans" appears in ancient Georgian, Armenian and Russian documents.<ref>Tsereteli, ''Sovremennyj jazyk'', Moscow: Nauka, 1964.</ref> 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.
| + | CHALDEAN FLAG & EMBLEM, Their Purpose: |
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| − | The debate appears to have been settled by the discovery of the [[Çineköy inscription]] in favour of Syria being derived from Chaldea.
| + | Using the flag and the emblem in the national festivities, political events, along with all ethnic occasions and celebrations, also for acknowledging the cultural contributions of our Chaldean Babylonian people. |
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| − | The ''Çineköy inscription'' is a [[Hieroglyphic Luwian]]-[[Phoenician language|Phoenician]] [[bilingual inscription|bilingual]], uncovered from Çineköy, [[Adana Province]], Turkey (ancient [[Cilicia]]), dating to the 8th century BC. Originally published by Tekoglu and Lemaire (2000),<ref>Tekoglu, R. & Lemaire, A. (2000). La bilingue royale louvito-phénicienne de Çineköy. ''Comptes rendus de l’Académie des inscriptions, et belleslettres, année 2000'', 960–1006.</ref> 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 FLAG DAY: MAY 17th |
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| − | The object on which the inscription is found is a monument belonging to Urikki, [[vassal]] king of [[Quwê|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".
| + | To honor Nebuchadnezzar’s father the Chaldean king Nabopolassar (Nabu-apla-usur) who liberated Babylonia on Ayar 17, 4674K. (May 17 , 626 B.C.) and assumed throne of the greatest capital of the ancient world on Tishreen II / Nov. 23, 626 B.C. |
The Word Chaldean comprises the native people of ancient Mesopotamia who are nationally Babylonian religiously Christian (Syriac or Surayeh)/ethnically Chaldean.
The two blue vertical lines (1987 versions and on) represent the eternal rivers Tigris and Euphrates which spring from the north and flow into the south of the Mesopotamian Land (The Chaldean Gulf/Tam-Ti-Sha-Mat-Kaldi) in the ancient Kaldee Babylonian language.
The sun (Eightfold Star) represents the Babylonians' symbol of Law and Justice, the two internal circles Yellow (Sun), Blue (Moon) representing the Chaldeans Babylonians' cultural contributions to the human history especially in Astronomy and Math. The eightfold sun is designed in the Mesopotamian Chaldean style, which goes back to 4100 BC proto-Chaldean's pictograph symbols.
The sun (Eightfold Star) refers to the aforementioned definitions of the Flag. The Spouting Vase (The Life Spring) of the Emblem is a Mesopotamian Proto-Chaldean's symbol that refers to fertility, renewal, and growth. So here the vessel stands for the Land of the two rivers, whereas the two right and left currents represent the Tigris and the Euphrates.
Using the flag and the emblem in the national festivities, political events, along with all ethnic occasions and celebrations, also for acknowledging the cultural contributions of our Chaldean Babylonian people.
To honor Nebuchadnezzar’s father the Chaldean king Nabopolassar (Nabu-apla-usur) who liberated Babylonia on Ayar 17, 4674K. (May 17 , 626 B.C.) and assumed throne of the greatest capital of the ancient world on Tishreen II / Nov. 23, 626 B.C.
