Assyria
Assyria was originally (in the Middle Bronze Age) a region on the Upper Tigris river, named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur .
Assyria is located in north Mesopotamia and spans four countries: In Syria it extends west to the Euphrates river; in Turkey it extends north to Harran, Edessa, Diyarbakir, and Lake Van; in Iran it extends east to Lake Urmi, and in Iraq it extends to about 100 miles south of Kirkuk. This is the Assyrian heartland, from which so much of the ancient Near East came to be controlled.
Assyrians are a Semitic peoples indigenous to Mesopotamia. They are Mediterranean Caucasoids, and are ethnically distinct from Arabs and Jews.
Assyrians have practiced two religions throughout their history: Ashurism and Christianity. Ashurism was, of course, the first religion of the Assyrians. The very word Assyrian, in its Latin form, derives from the name of Ashur, the Assyrian god. Assyrians continued to practice Ashurism until 256 A.D, although by that time, most Assyrians had accepted Christianity. Indeed, Assyrians were the first nation to accept Christianity, and the Assyrian Church was founded in 33 A.D. by Thomas, Bortholemew and Thaddeus.
You can read how stubborn and dangerously wicked the Assyrian forces where in those days in 2 kings 18:13-37 especially of how the taunted Israel and their God
Photos by ILumina
ASSYRIAN ARCHER
Many ancient Armies had archers that shoot arrows much farther than spears and javelins could go
ASSYRIAN SLINGERS
A good student of the Bible would know that in king David's time slings were used by shepherd boys and soldiers to hurl stones at enemies. it is even said that many armies had troops that specialized as professional slingers
ASSYRIAN PERSECUTORS
As you can see the Assyrians really tortured and persecuted their conquered captives and prisoners
ASSYRIAN DEPORTATION
Because the people were wicked and had forsaken God to serve Idols. the Lord sent them into exile here this picture show the deportation of the Judeans from different cities and sending them to far away land
Godbless
Channelofhealing
What does "Semitic" mean? Is it a word for nomad? I thought that it was
ReplyDeletea word used to reference the Jews.
Interesting post, btw.
Isn't Assyria where Ninevah was?
I remember from the Veggie Tales Jonah movie they worshiped a fish god by the name of Daggon or something.
Hi Tkwi,thanks for reading this
ReplyDeleteThe term Semite means a member of any of various ancient and modern peoples originating in southwestern Asia.
Nineveh is described as an "exceeding great city", as it is called in the Book of Jonah, it lays on the eastern bank of the Tigris in ancient Assyria, near the modern-day major city of Mosul, Iraq which lies across the river.
thanks again
Godbless
Yes, Nineveh was also a part of Assyria. For the kingdom was made-up of several city-states; and each one had it's own particular god to worship, while acknowledging the others (not so unlike the Greeks later-on).
ReplyDeleteHence: the reason behind the hatred that Jonah held for them. For as a whole: the Assyrians delighted in the slaughter of innocents and the maiming of their captives.
Nonetheless: let us keep in mind the message delivered through Jonah. For if our Heavenly Father would be willing to show such mercy towards those as naturally wicked as the Assyrians: there is hope for even the hardest of hearts in this day and age.
There is, of course, a rest of the story that should not be ignored. For the Assyrians eventually took our Heavenly Father's grace for granted and returned unto their wicked ways, which led unto their utter destruction.
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ReplyDeleteOh Fishhawk you are a real blessing thanks for the insight and I hope Tkwi and I will see that.
ReplyDeleteIt like you are an Historian too... Good work. we certainly will benefit from your knowledge of the Bible in Jesus Mighty Name Amen
Thanks for the visits and comments too
Godbless