The modern Assyrian regions

In this article the modern Assyrian regions will be defined and described. An Assyrian region is a region which has or had a large Assyrian population and where the Assyrian culture dominated for centuries. There are six big regions that form Assyria. Four Eastern regions: Nineveh Plains, Hakkari, Urmia, Qardu. Two Western regions: Tur-Abdin and Gozarto.

Eastern regions

Nineveh Plains

The Nineveh Plains are located in the north of Iraq, which is the heartland of Assyria. This region has over hundreds of thousands Assyrians which means it’s a very diverse region. Before the invasion of ISIS the Assyrians formed atleast 40% of the region. The dominant religious denomination in this region is Chaldean-Catholic. The dialect from this region is called the Nineveh-Plains dialect.

Some of the most well-known cities and villages from this region are: Alqosh, Tel keppe, Bartella, Bakhdede..

picture of Alqosh, Nineveh-Plains

Hakkari

Hakkare literally meaning farmers, referring to the amount of Assyrian farmers in the region. This region is located in South-Eastern Turkey it’s also a modern Turkish province called Hakkarî. Today there are no Assyrians left in Hakkari. Most Assyrians from Hakkari live in diaspora or moved to other Assyrian regions like the Nineveh-Plains, Qardu, Gozarto and Tur-Abdin. The dominant religious denomination of people from this region is Assyrian Church of the East. There are two sub-dialects from this region. West-Hakkarian (cfr. Ashitha, Mangesh, Zawitha, Upper-Tyare…) and East-Hakkarian (cfr. Nochiya, Jilu, Gawar, Baz).

_{^{Two great Assyrian leaders in military uniform, Malik Khoshaba (of Lower Tyari) and general Agha Patros with other Assyrian tribal fighters taken between 1918-1921}}

Urmia

The lake city of Urmia. This city is located in West-Iran, which means it’s part of East-Assyria. The Assyrian name Urmia translates to City (Ur) + Miyya/mayya (Water) so City of Water due to it’s location. It’s a group of villages even today this region still has Assyrians in it. The dominant religious denomination of people from this region is Assyrian Church of the East.

The lake of Urmia

Qardu

The etymology of the name of this region finds it’s origins in Assyrian-Akkadian. It means heroic, brave, courageous. ¹

Western regions

Tur-Abdin

Gozarto

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References

1. Assyrian-Akkadian Lexicon, 08 December 2021, http://www.assyrianlanguages.org/akkadian/dosearch.php