Issue No. 41 NAKOSHA [email protected] June 2001 P.O. BOX 948 Merlynston, Victoria, 3058. Australia. www.atour.com/aygv 6751 Jryz-x BnLle0ty-ylrtsw) 0t-yrwt) 0tw-m-yl9d 0t-syrp This is a Free Publication The.Assyrian-Australian.Youth.Publication P P 332398/0002 Back.to.the

CultureSee Centrespread... Katie Toma- How the The low-down Age: Seventeen continues Karate school: Goju-Ryu Grade: Black belt: attained today. 6th June 2001 Greatest karate achievement so far: confidence and learning Presented by to do your best for Ninb Tooma today. Ambition: to continue to succeed in karate; complete 8pm, 1st July a Law Buchan Street degree. Community Centre See p. 8

SAYFO Meadow Heights Using.the.worldwide.resources.of.Zinda:.www.zindamagazine.com FIRST ASSYRIAN MEDIA MERGER, shared by ’s 30,000 Assyrians. his talk with a cause-and-effect analysis of ZINDA AND NAKOSHA MAGAZINES “In 1997, we all voted for him. We will do it the apathy demonstrated by the Assyrians again. He is good for us and he wants us to outside of the Homeland. Acknowledging the (ZNDA: San Jose) Zinda Corporation, the stay in Iran,” said Yonathan Bet-Kolia, the worldwide focus on the future of and the parent company of Zinda Magazine Assyrian Representative in Iran’s Majlis minorities in the North, Mr. Eliah’s comments announced last week that it has merged with (Parliament), unnerved by the large numbers were void of any specific reference to ADM’s the successful Assyrian-Australian magazine, of his community leaving for the United current role in the Iraqi National Congress, Nakosha. States. alliances formed with other Assyrian political Zinda Corporation, a privately held Khatami is expected to win re-election this groups, and the on-going discussions with California-based company, headquartered in Friday in a field of 10 candidates. Khatami U.S. State Department. San Jose, is a leading provider of human last year even visited an Assyrian church in resources services for clients including Cisco the western city of Uremia. “That was BETH MARDUTHO LAUNCHES THE and Hewlett-Packard. In addition to HR marvelous,” Bet-Kolia said. SYRIAC DIGITAL LIBRARY services, Zinda provides its corporate clients But Assyrians are not without their criticisms with multi-media and Internet application of the president. They particularly resent that (ZNDA: New Jersey) On June 6, Beth products. Christians are still barred from high Mardutho: The Syriac Institute launched Wilfred Alkhas, President of Zinda administrative functions and from teaching. Project e-Beth Arké: The Syriac Digital Corporation commented on the merger: “We Library. The project aims to bring are very pleased that this merger will soon 3,000 out-of-copyright enhance the level of media services provided books, journal to the Assyrian communities in Australia articles, pictures, and abroad. Our staff at Zinda and audio Magazine will capitalize on recordings to the the synergies arising Internet in an e- from the Library form. The complementary Syriac name of the nature of Zinda’s library, e-Beth Arké, worldwide .brief literally means ‘house of resources and in archives’ and denotes a library. Nakosha’s ASSYRIAN. WORLDThe project is directed by Dr. George unparalleled Kiraz. distribution systems.’’ news The Institute initiated the project and is The Staff in Australia will leading it in partnership with major university continue to maintain full editorial control of GREEK DIPLOMAT, TURKEY libraries, including Nakosha Magazine, while Zinda Corporation VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS Brigham Young University, The Catholic will provide the Assyrian Youth Group of University of America, Brown University, Victoria with funds to continue the publication (ZNDA: Athenes) Greek right-wing main Dumbarton Oaks of their successful magazine. opposition party of New Democracy Euro- Library, Princeton Theological Seminary, and David Chibo, Editor of Nakosha Magazine, deputy Christos Zacharakis with a question others. Associated with the project is a said “Nakosha and Zinda will focus their to the European Union Council of Ministers Library Partnership program that gives public efforts and create a strong platform for the condemned the Turkish foreign ministry and private libraries the opportunity to media campaigns that will be waged in the decision to forbid European citizens of complete their collections, or start a collection future.” Assyrian and Syrian origin to visit the homes from the ground up. Nakosha Magazine is a service of the of their ancestors and their relatives in The project was welcomed by many scholars Assyrian Youth Group of Victoria in Australia southern Turkey. and libraries worldwide. “How frustrating it and is distributed throughout the world. Mr. Zacharakis pointed out that Ankara is is that important literature on Syriac studies For more information visit Nakosha at http:/ violating fundamental human rights with the is scattered over so many periodicals and /www.atour.com/~aygv/. legislative regulation it implements, while at books, with the result that even a good library the same time, it continues the systematic like Oxford University’s Bodleian Library STAND BEHIND destruction of the Assyrian and Syrian cultural does not cover anything like the whole range,” PRESIDENT KHATAMI heritage by destroying monasteries and said Dr. Sebastian Brock, reader of churches turning them into mosques and at Oxford’s Oriental Institute. “To have all (ZNDA: ) The 300,000 non-Muslims stables. this material that is out of copyright collected voting in Iran’s presidential election next together and made available in this way would Friday are expected to side en masse with ZOWAA U.S. REP DISCUSSES ADM be an immensely valuable service, not only reformist incumbent Mohammad Khatami, ACTIVITIES to scholars working in this and the many although their political leaders generally related academic fields, but also to the wider refrain from taking sides in the Islamic (ZNDA: San Jose) On Sunday evening Mr. public and above all, to people belonging to republic’s politics. These are Assyrians, Rommel Eliah, the U.S. and Canada the different Churches of Syriac tradition,” , Jews, and the Zoroastrians. Representative of the Assyrian Democratic added Dr. Brock. “Khatami gave us hope. He recognized us on Movement (Zowaa) offered a small audience For further information, to read sample the cultural and human levels. My family and of Assyrians at the Hall a eBooks, and to support this project, please friends will all vote for him,” said Azad, a brief report of his organization’s current visit www.bethmardutho.org (click on eBeth young Armenian woman. Her enthusiasm is activities in North of Iraq. Mr. Eliah began Arké). 2-NAKOSHA. June 2001 ne of our that CARE now organises. Our students were What does Assyrian mean to worldwide the primary concern, and over the years the you? community’s group’s role evolved to take on a more This is a question a friend Ofinest new groups humanitarian mission, as well as deciding to once asked at a time when I operating out of the actively promote our heritage, culture and had come to a fuller suburbs (such as West language to ensure the continuity of our people understanding of myself as Bloomfield and in America.” well as my identity. Walled Lake) of Among the many activities it conducts, “ is a verb, not a Detroit, Michigan, CARE acts as a mentor to students, gives them noun,” was my response. It North America, has recently emerged from advice, answers their questions, and listens to eloquently summed up my relative obscurity. The name of the group is their concerns. CARE also conducts blood philosophy on the issue as CARE and the 19-year old Reporting drives, food drives, and furniture drives as well well as the philosophy of Secretary, Jeff Atto, was the main contact as visiting with elementary, middle, or high Nakosha magazine. providing us with assistance for our interview. schools. During their visits to these schools But that is not enough. note CARE’s mission statement, as spelled out they often give presentations on our history to

People require guidance and . in their homepage (http:// the school administration and staff, and direction. They need to www.voicesthatcare.org) is “Chaldean sometimes to companies as well. CARE has know what they can do in Americans Reaching & Encouraging” also visited our elderly who are residents in order to assist those who are (C.A.R.E.). It is an organization which various nursing homes in Detroit. Besides currently working for promotes diversity through an educational working in their own community, CARE has worlwide. curriculum and mentoring programs, while also worked with many other non-profit groups Defining our problems is providing humanitarian services to those in the like the March of Dimes, Walk to Cure always a good starting point. Detroit area. CARE’s activities are conducted Diabetes and The Chaldean Ladies of Charity, After much heated debate to preserve the Chaldean culture, history and among others. our problems can be language. After nearly three years of hard work the generally broken down into The first question asked was: Why was such CARE team takes great pride in its four main categories. a unqiue name - CARE - chosen for the group? achievements which include recognition by Summed up, in the Middle “We chose it because that is exactly what we Local and State governments, numerous school East they are ‘political’ and are doing to our youth in the schools that we districts and community groups. Under the ‘economic’, whereas in the visit. Our group has been so successful with guidance of CARE’s dedicated volunteers, diaspora they are ‘social’ and the youth because the average age in our group students’ school grades have improved ‘identity’. is in the mid-twenties. The children can see remarkably.

What becomes apparent editor’s the CARE members as role models because The future looks bright for CARE and its after further analysis of our we are college students and professionals,” Mr. plans include visiting many more schools, problems is that what is in surplus in the Atto responded. assisted by the many volunteers who donate diaspora is in desperate need in the Middle CARE was initially established in 1997 by a their time. Education classes focussed on East, and vice versa. small group of people who decided that our religion & culture will also be used to target Therefore in order to resolve the majority of our problems one solution stands out as a starting point for the Assyrian people. An International Media network, connecting the with the diaspora, would provide a means for Assyrians in the diaspora to trade their economic surplus for their cultural deficiencies. people, in Detroit, needed an organisation to the , culture, and history. “We With that, I take this opportunity to inform help out our newly-arrived children struggling also encourage aspects of our heritage like art, you of our recently announced partnership in local public schools. They also decided to poetry, music and so on, by holding events with Zinda corporation, and hence Zinda help our needy in certain areas of Michigan, related to those subjects... ” explained Mr. magazine. With the financial and the and also to do whatever possible in order to Atto. Some of their current projects include worldwide news resources of Zinda, Nakosha promote and preserve our heritage. Its the creation of a Syriac curriculum, as well as is preparing for rapid growth in distribution as founding members, most of whom are still expanding the school that they visit. well as content in the months to come. What actively involved, were Martin Manna, Andy Organisations around the world who are we, the members of Nakosha and Zinda, have Patros, Bashar Hannosh, Arlene Kakos, interested in assisting this young group can do begun is the first stage of the creation of an Margaret Saroki, and Fr. Frank Kalabat. After so by providing them with any relevant International Assyrian-owned and operated asking how he got involved with CARE Mr. materials, such as books related to the Syriac media infrastructure. Using an analogy, if Atto explained his initiation into the unique language. In this way they will be assisting Assyria were considered to be a human body, group. “I heard about CARE a year ago (last CARE in creating a Syriac curriculum. we are attempting to give our body a summer) and decided to see what it was all When asked what valuable lesson he has desperately needed ‘nervous system’. It’s now about. After the first meeting, I decided to taken from his time at CARE, Mr. Atto had up to the rest of the Assyrians in our join because I was so impressed with such a the following to share with us. “I have learned community to take advantage of this media great group of people.” that volunteering my time is as valuable to me infrastructure and use it to promote their When asked to explain why CARE was as it is to those that are being helped by CARE’s activities and accomplishments, setting a formed Mr. Atto said “...CARE was formed programs and services. I have also learned that standard for other Assyrians throughout the because our community didn’t have any in a volunteer situation, you have to be world to follow. organizations that helped our students in prepared to do what someone else should have Won’t you join us on this unique journey?n schools, or that do many of the other activities done.”n David Chibo David Chibo

6751 Jryzx .04wqn-3 or Assyrians living in the diaspora, the word tleeqa (literally, “lost”) has become an all too familiar part of their vocabulary. Assyrians, scattered across the globe as they are, could be viewed, in a sense, as tleeqeh. In turn, Assyrians themselves believe some among them to be tleeqeh if they can’t speak Syriac or understand the culture - or if they simply don’t care about it. But the condition of being ‘lost’ is not necessarily a permanent one F– only a few things in life are lost forever. More often than not, what is lost is eventually found. Usually, it’s just a question of time. And time has always been on the Assyrians’ side.

ssyrians’ recent history has been one realise that their roots in fact lie somewhere In their message to the ?Lost and Found Backmarked by exodus and loss. Living else, and search for that. identityto within exhibit, curators .Maree Clarket and Jacquih in the diaspora is a relatively new themselves. Geia commented that “second or third Aexperience – for the most part, they have These themes are thoroughly explored in generation Australians, who no longer have lived in the Middle East, in close contact with ?Lost and Found: A shared search for access to their ancestral stories, have new their cultural roots. Life in the diaspora belonging, an exhibition currently being held inspiration to search for their stories and find occupies only a tiny part of overall Assyrian at the Immigration Museum and the Koorie their personal place in them.” And the history – around a 100 years, with the heritage Trust, in which local indigenous and Assyrian cultural “treasure house” is indeed majority of it in the last thirty. Viewed in this ethnic artists from the world over examine a very vast one from which to draw context, it is a completely ‘foreign’ condition ideas of alienation, loss, cultural dislocation inspiration. Colourful, life-affirming for Assyrians. For these people to be and memory – and the struggle to find one’s paintings depict scenes of Noosardel, Kha culturally, economically, and politically true self. b’Neesan and Dekna d’Neesan, uprooted from their native land and to be Following on from these ideas was the Somekka,Kalu Sulaqa, pookhen and Baoota expected to settle into their new found Back to the Culture exhibition, a showcase d’Ninwaye and Ilana d’Khetna. homes and retain their unique culture – all of young Assyrians’ culture-related art, held Ten-year old Banipal Odicho’s Somekka within a few generations – is a tall order at the Darebin Arts Centre here in [fifth from the right] depicts a night scene indeed. Melbourne, Australia on the 10th June, with a ghost crying ‘Somekka!’ while However, once the dust of these great 2001. Conceived and managed by talented children, draped in the traditional dress of upheavals settles, people and cultures find local Assyrian artist Natasha Brakhya Kouli cow-hide and sheepish faces complete with themselves and redefine their ‘meaning’ in and presented by the Assyrian Children’s horns, go from door to door singing scary a new environment. It follows a typical Artwork, with the financial assistance of Mr. songs. Originally, it was the adults who would pattern – the first generation struggles to Michael Odisho of the Victorian Assyrian dress as ghosts in order to scare children into overcome economic and language Community, the event not only showed off fasting for Christian holidays. The similarity difficulties; the second begins to feel more the talents of young Assyrians upto thirteen between this, the ‘Assyrian Halloween’, and settled, having a good grasp of the local years of age, but also offered a unique the holiday practiced in North America is language and beginning to feel financially opportunity to explore and further striking. Today children between 4 and 12 more secure and independent; the third and understand the unique . years of age still carry out this tradition. fourth generations, now totally comfortable “We are at risk of losing our culture,” The unsigned Noosardel is a beautiful in their ‘new’ environment, are torn between Natasha said. “Through this art we can learn rendition of this ancient tradition. Children the local culture and that of the older about our culture – which is our social life, throw buckets of water over each other, while generations. Through stories from their our food, language, dance, customs, habits a sign in the background reminds us of the parents and grandparents, they begin to and way of life.” date – 22nd of July. The tradition of 4-NAKOSHA. June 2001 “What greater grief than the loss of one’s native land.”

Euripides (485 BC - 406 B.C.), Medea 431 B.C.

splashing water goes back to the story of veser jiftaj whel dxedvser syuqwumaj mN ptyuxaj mevbertaj qaj jwurxaj xed] yuloh hwuyaj jemnaj hIshtare and Tammuz,. AssyrianCulture gods who, dxzyureN. byerxaj hwuyaj dbernafaj qedmayoj zeb;noj mN dbernafaj dtexmnyatoj while ascending from Gehenna (Hell), are poured over with the ‘glistening waters of jatwrayoj vodwatoj jenoj bwud pfyu[oj rabaj texmnyatoj wrevfyatoh. dtexmnyatoh mexzeytaj qaj chyaj yu]loh life’. [see Nakosha, page 7, Tamuz edition, qaj mexzy lh]wN dmcj lwUxoj gaw gwufminoj y]naj pyufoj bxezexloh bernafaj finoj jelpoj tletyN qed]M mN ked 6750]. bwud ydevtaj jyutlh]wuN wbnatoj yalod]j jenoj dkmaj macayaj ked , dgipoj gwudaj vel cwuryatoj xed]kmaj rfyumaj Twelve year-old Balsamona Odicho’s Dekna d’Neesan (Kha b’Neesan) [above . jatwreytaj merdwutaj gefiq dkoj ljwurxaj wpermex ltexmnyatoh dhagex ywex right] portrays an ancient Assyrian building qed]M mN d qaj ywij hemwunoj yalwpoj djenoj zwUdaj seh]maj . yu]loh drfyumj rwufmoj mN lxeywutaj byah h]waj with large wooden doors, from which are permeytaj xdaj lh]wN h]waj lyut glaxaj boyt djahaj jiN jap bernafaj finoj jelpoj tlatyuN bat]r mN jdywuM hel hanging a bunch of flowers and grass – a tradition dating back 6751 years when The h]waj hwoj glaxaj boyt jahaj jyunaj , vojdwatoj jenoj bwud jesayaj manaj xed] yu]loh hwuyaj jemnaj jyunaj yu]loh m[wuraj Assyrian Flood settled and new life wyedvyu dfemvyu yalwpoj jenoj qaj pwursaj xdaj loh lrig;foh dmevbir jemynajyut yu]loh dmcyaj flourished. Originally celebrated for almost vemaj bwud j]syuroj dyunaj zwuyaxoj xed]kmaj bwud zwUdaj bwuf wltexmenyatoh. two weeks, the day is now commemorated jatwrayaj, qaj [wuPsaj rabaj mN jab;ahoj loj y]naj j]myuroj y]naj loj jab;ahoj mN rabaj [wuPsaj qaj jatwrayaj, only on April the First. In the foreground of boyt xed] h]waj dhawoj qaj jeninqeytaj rabaj yuh]waj hedka;j this painting is a group of young children yezyuxyu jatwrayoj dmednxaj jetrwatoj dgaw yelwudeyhy qaj mN dgedwudoj wtexmnyatoj lrinyoj va[ip dmacj glaxaj sitting around an adult who is pointing to zeyxex koj zwuyaxaj d piclaj wmwUdy] dnwuserdojyl lvojdaj boyt hedkuaj , jatwureytaj merdwutaj bwud wcEbyatoj cEbyoj the dekna, passing on the tradition to the gaw djahaj vojdaj , hedka;j jahaj boyt glaxaj fbi;qloh glaxaj boyt jahaj hedka;j , vojdaj djahaj gaw qwurbaj xbi;floh lmerdwuteN dvertaj fimaj txwut glaxaj younger generation. How does one go about preserving the jenoj bwud ydevtaj xdaj lh]wuN hawoj yalwpoj djenoj qaj mN yalwpoj byuyhy h]waw dfwutpoj lwxoj dxemfyuN Assyrian heritage? Questions like these g‘wurblh]wuN jyunaj ydevtaj bes laj jatwrayoj. zwuyaxoj wjap jatwrayaj dlifanaj dmelptaj jatwrayoj medrfyatoj assume that Assyrians know what their qaj djenoj texmnyatoj matb;yulh]wuN vel weraqaj gaw xed]kmaj gaw weraqaj vel matb;yulh]wuN texmnyatoj djenoj qaj boyN yuh]waw fineyhy fewtpanoj j]xor]noj. wbnatoj yalod]j zoj heritage is, and that it is worth preserving. That it is worth preserving can hardly be wfepyroj. pfyu[oj rabaj lwUxoj finoj. veser lxemfaj visraj argued against. Projects like Back to the boyt djahaj mdebrentaj yuh]waj brekuyaj netafaj jemntaj dyuh]waw llwUxoj loh h]waj xbi;f glaxaj boyt jahaj Culture ensure that the Assyrian culture will glaxaj ked hHy yuh]waj maraj dtexmntaj qaj djahaj boyt djahaj qaj dtexmntaj maraj yuh]waj hHy ked glaxaj vojdaj [wuPsaj qaj jatwrayoj vojdoj bwud mlwujeyhy be understood - especially by generations of young Assyrians living in the diaspora - and gaw qaj y]naj gwuroj seb;reN ljyutwutaj. h]waj jatoj glaxaj bavwutaj , wswulaqaj kalwu , bnyuseN xed] , dnwuserdojyl therefore preserved, to be enjoyed by bwuf whawyu fwUpaj feqlyu glaxoj boyt hedka;j devtyud wfr. dnyunwayoj, countless future Assyrians.n n qateyhy. wjeninqaywutaj v]danaj yihbo;j h]waw pyufaj glaxaj boyt jahaj febtaj dxdaj qwurbaj Sennacherib Daniel

6751 Jryzx .04wqn-5

on Life on Caricature

What does happiness mean to you?

kl mindyu d[elbety macyiN vebudnoh qatakuy !] qatakuy vebudnoh macyiN d[elbety mindyu kl

bevyeN minwuKu !!! minwuKu bevyeN 1 - xed] yalad]j fepyraj wmilyaj fepyraj yalad]j xed] - 1 2 - jabuhatyu fbuqyly jyumeN dpel[eN wdvreN lbeytaj jyumeN dbevyeN jyumeN lbeytaj wdvreN dpel[eN jyumeN fbuqyly jabuhatyu - 2 3 - xdaj jetnabil xedtaj wjiN hawyaj )byu joM deblywu( bwuf cpay y]ulah cpay bwuf deblywu( joM )byu hawyaj wjiN xedtaj jetnabil xdaj - 3 4 - xed]ka`j zwuzoj gaw benkaj gaw zwuzoj xed]ka`j - 4 wj]xer]naj hedkuaj mindyanoj ------mindyanoj hedkuaj wj]xer]naj

uFemale/23/Chicago, IL Happiness to me could only be for a uMale/19/U.S.A Reseda wHappiness to me means LOVE. moment but I know deep in my heart wHappiness has no meaning. The one day it will be for eternity. only meaning it possess is the words uFemale/25/Chicago, USA and meaning that which we provide wOnly for a Moment Happiness to uFemale/35/Sydney, Australia to it. Happiness is the begining of me means being on cloud nine if only wGood health, Peace, Reaching your understand who you are and the for a moment, that’s all I’d need. For goals, Love and Knowing someone up reason why one is living in this world. to feel the joy it fills my soul,it could there is looking after me; “God”. Most of all happiness is the being of be anything, smiling at a stranger loving your parents and appreciating whose eyes look so sad and watching u Female/32/Melbourne, the love that they provide. them fill up, because you know your Australia souls have made a connection. w I guess it means feeling uFemale/25/USA, Fremont Holding a new born baby with extra comfortable with myself and finding wHappiness, to me, means being care only to shield it from the world’s more positive aspects to life than satisfied with your self: spiritually, misery who know it will have to face. negative ones. It means having the mentally and physically. Happiness is A pure touch from your lover’s hand freedom to express myself and fulfil love, faith, family, friends, dreams, knowing he/she loves you no matter my goals without too much smiles, tears and everything in Life, what happens in this lifetime. impediment. :) but most of all God. Next month’s question is: What do you think of today’s Assyrian music? Our non-e-mail readers can also respond to this question by snail mail to: Nakosha, P.O. Box 948, Merlynston Vic. 3058. Caricature on Life is a question-based opinion survey of Nakosha’s worldwide Internet readers. Readers are sent a question upon the Internet publication of Nakosha. Besides making minor spelling corrections, our readers’ responses are left as raw as possible in order to allow a platform for the expression of their thoughts. Anyone interested in responding to questions posed on the Caricature on Life section can e-mail their details to [email protected].

6-NAKOSHA. June 2001 ANCIENT

t was the ancient people of Mesopotamia who they observed that it always travelled from west to first devised a system to measure and record east along a broad path, deviating from side to side time. Based on the Babylonian ‘sexagesimal of it in the course of the year. This same path is the system’, the hour was divided into 60 minutes Zodiac - the celestial “circle of necessity”. The ASTROLOGYand the minute into 60 seconds. The hours of the middle line of the sun’s path is known as the Ecliptic. Iday and the night each numbered 12. The month In keeping with the myth, the Babylonian scientists was also divided into weeks of 7 days, and the 12 divided the Ecliptic into 12 equal parts and grouped months were combined to form a year. It was in each part the stars which formed their during this that the Babylonians constellations; these are also called “Signs of the invented the Clepsydra and the sundial, the first Zodiac”. Once again, using the ‘sexagesimal system’, ever tools designed to measure time. each degree in the constellation was divided up into Having created a way to measure time, they next 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds. Each required a calendar in order to measure a full solar month had thus its own sign, or constellation. The year. The earliest calendars, such as that of the 3 constellations associated with each month each Assyrians, were naturally crude and tended to be had a symbolic significance: they reflected the based upon the seasons or the lunar cycle. Having character of their months. measured the time from one full moon to the next, Having been the first to develop and study which was 29 1/2 days long, their lunar year had a Astrology, as well as mathematics, it is not suprising duration of 354 days. This fell 11 days short of a then that after 2 thousand years of study the science full solar year, which is approximately 365 days, 5 had made great advancements, in comparison to hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds. Every 3 years, its primitive beginnings, developing into a true, such a lunar based calendar would be off by a whole science-based Astronomy. In fact during the height month, so the Assyrians added an extra month of the Assyrian Empire, Assyrian kings had in their from time to time to keep their calendar in palaces official astronomers who had over 2 synchronisation with the seasons. thousand years of accumulated data at their disposal, The signs of the Zodiac were the very same and who received reports from up to 3 separate names of the months used in the ancient Assyrian astronomical observatories throughout the Empire. calendar. It is estimated that the signs of the Zodiac At the height of Astrology during the reign of the were fixed around the year 2084 B.C. The Assyrian Empire, Assyrian astrologers were able to Babylonian idea of astrology appears to have been accurately foretell when eclipses would take place! centred on the recognition of the astral bodies as What is known for certain is that centuries before spirits or fates, who excercised an influence over Greek science was even heard of, there were the gods, the world, and mankind’s fate. These scientists in Mesopotamia. The Babylonian signs same spirits were worshipped in groups when they of the Zodiac were eventually passed onto the were yet nameless. Greeks by the Phoenicians and Hittites. “There was Babylon’s creation myth explained these spirits a time”, says Professor Sayce, “when the Hittites and explains that when Merodach engaged in the were profoundly affected by Babylonian civilization, work of creating the Universe he “set all the great religion, and art....” They “carried the time-worn gods in their several stations”, and “also created civilizations of and Egypt to the furthest their images, the stars of the Zodiac, and fixed them boundary of Egypt, and there handed them over to all”. Each month was also controlled by a zodiacal the West in the grey dawn of European history.” constellation. History shows that the Greeks, and the Western The early Babylonian astronomers believed that world, only became acquainted with Astrology after Bibliography Primitive Constellations, vol. ii, pp. 147 et seq. the sun travelled across the heavens flying like a it had been well developed as a science under the Myths of Babylonia and Assyria, Donald A. Mackenzie, pp 305-325 bird or a sailing boat. In studying its movements ancient Assyrians.n Mesopotamian Astrology 2,000 B.C. - O.A.D. - http://nickcampion.com/ David Chibo nc/history/ihoa/mesopotamia.htm Aries Messenger 20th Mar. Nisan Nisan Apr. Taurus “Bull of Heaven” 20th Apr. Iyyar Iyyar May Gemini Twins side by side 21st May Sivan Kzeran June Cancer Crab 21st June Tammuz Tammuz July Leo Lion (Big Dog) 22nd July Ab Tabukh (Ab) Aug. Virgo Ishtar, the Virgin’s ear of corn 23rd Aug. Elul Elul Sep. Libra The Balance 23rd Sep. Tisri Tishrin 1 Oct. Scorpio Scorpion of darkness 23rd Oct. Marcheswan Tishrin 2 Nov. Sagittarius Man-horse with bow 22nd Nov. Chisleu Canun 1 Dec. Capricornus Ea’s goat-fish. 21st Dec. Tebet Canun 2 Jan. Modern Constellations Babylonian Equivalent Modern English Month Modern Assyrian Month

Aquarius God with water urn 19th Jan. Ancient Babylonian Month Sebat Shbat Feb.

Pisces Fish tails in canal Babylonian calendar entry Date of Sun’s 18th Feb. Adar Adar Mar.

6751 Jryzx .04wqn-7 Katie Toma ho says Assyrian girls don’t wear the for a week after she pants? We know one Melburnian lost a competition,” Assyrian girl in particular who her older sister Vienna Wdefinitely wears the pants – and she holds them smiles, “now she’s a lot up with a black belt. She is Katie Toma, master more philosophical about of the Goju-Ryu style of karate. it all.” Losing a Goju-Ryu is Japanese for ‘soft-hard’, a name competition simply which aptly describes not only this karate school’s means she can now philosophy, but also Katie herself. On the identify her outside, she is softly spoken, gentle and petite– weaknesses and do that’s her ‘soft’ side. Deep down, she is tough, better next time. independent and above all unexpectedly She’d learned the confident – and all this at only seventeen years value of hope – of age. ‘failure’ in karate, as in Katie first became interested in martial arts at life, is not absolute: the age of ten – when most girls that age are there is always the ‘next following the latest teeny-bopper fashions, Katie time.’ was studying Bruce Lee’s life-story, his movies The Goju-Ryu insignia and his message: rise above your difficulties consists of three petals placed through determination and succeed in life . in around a white circle. Each of reality though, being beaten up by two girls at the three petals represents a Brunswick High School was all the excuse she major sensei (teacher) of the school needed to take up karate. (Incidentally, this was surrounding the pure white circle of life. all over a young man. Having three girls after Education is very important for Katie too, and him apparently drove him mad – rumour has it her major life influences come in threes as well. that he now lives a secluded life somewhere in The three most important figures in her life have a future potential lawyer, you could be forgiven New Zealand). also been teachers of various sorts: her older for seeing her as a minority within a minority Initially, as with most youngsters who take up sister, her school-teacher and her karate sensei within a minority. But that’s exactly the kind of martial arts, she used it to ‘get back’ at others. – each one has played, and continues to play, a attitude Katie wants to karate-chop to pieces : “I That quickly changed. Part of maturity is learning vital role in her education in not only school and want to show that I’m different from most other your limitations and being able to say “I don’t sport, but in life. Assyrian girls - that girls can achieve.” Training know” or “I can’t”. Self-knowledge and And Katie has now herself become a teacher. six days a week and studying in order to confidence both replace youthful over- Being a black-belt, it’s expected of her. “Before, accomplish these goals, she even manages to confidence and arrogance – which really all just I hardly had the confidence to speak in front of squeeze in time for her hobbies – dancing, stem from insecurity. “I didn’t speak much little kids, let alone grown-ups, and wasn’t too singing, the guitar, learning the piano and her English at the time,” she tells us, “and things were confident at school,” she explains, “but now, I real passion – acting. difficult for me at school. I was a bit of a can stand up and talk to a group of adults.” When asked what her greatest triumph in troublemaker. I had to ‘prove myself’. Karate You may feel that Katie is just brawn and karate is so far, she doesn’t speak of competitions taught me confidence – I learned about anger beauty, but you’d be wrong - she’s brains too. or trophies – her answer is unexpected: it’s having and how to deal with it – you’re braver if you can Currently in Year 12, she plans on studying Law learned to do the best you can in life today, and smile and walk away.” in the future. She attacks life with the same to live it as if there’s no tomorrow. Competitions taught Katie a lot about herself competitive, confident spirit that she attacks With her winning attitude, we’re sure Katie too. Initially, she had to prove she could win, karate. “I want to prove to those people who think will tackle whatever is dished out to her – both and when she didn’t, she would take it out on I can’t make it, that I can become a lawyer,” she in the karate ring and in life.n

herself and others. “She wouldn’t talk to anyone states confidently. Being Assyrian, and a girl, and Sennacherib Daniel ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○yu-lfan naf-sho psychology yul-pan naw-sha

0-A4p-En NEplwUy 0a4fen NEpluwy ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○yu-lfan mlee-loo-tho logic yul-pan mlee-loo-ta

0atUwlylOm NEplwUy 0Atuwl-uylm NEpluwy ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○yu-fan shaw-to-oo-tho social science yul-pan shaw-ta-poo-ta

0atwUpatwE4 NEplwUy 0AtuwpAtwe4 NEpluwy ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○shabro university bet sobae your )AbwEc Tyib 0abw2c tyob

. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○shabrotho library bet arky

)kra0Tyib 0akrE) tyob ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○doshno jail bet khowshea

)Ay4wbx Tyib 0ay4uw3bx tyob ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○shokono court bet dayana

)nyod Tyib 0anuyd tyob ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○. kee-noo-tho justice ke-noo-tha

0tAw-Un)kO 0Atuwn0ok ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ma-sa-tho scale [of justice] ma-se-tha 0at)-EsE-m )At)esem

language learn ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○msa-thro-noo-tho defence msa-tra-noo-tha 0atwU-narTEs-m 0AtuwnArtesm 8-NAKOSHA. June 2001