The mystical ancient time of Mesopotamia However, as writing was invented in Mesopotamia it is certainly the oldest in written history.
Mesopotamian religion refers to the religious beliefs and practices followed by the Sumerian and East Semitic Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian and later migrant Arameans and Chaldeans, living in Mesopotamia (a region encompassing modern Iraq, Kuwait, south east Turkey and north east Syria) that dominated the region for a period of 4,200 years from the fourth millennium BCE throughout Mesopotamia, to
approximately the 10th century CE in Assyria.[1]
Mesopotamian polytheism was the only religion in ancient Mesopotamia for thousands of years before entering a period of gradual decline beginning between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE. This decline happened in the face of the introduction of a distinctive native Eastern Rite (Syriac Christianity such as the Assyrian Church of the East and Syriac Orthodox Church), as well as Judaism, Manicheanism and Gnosticism, and continued for approximately three to four centuries, until most of the original religious traditions of the area died out, with the final traces existing among some remote Assyrian communities until the 10th century CE.[1]
As with most dead religions, many aspects of the common practices and intricacies of the doctrine have been lost and forgotten over time. Fortunately, much of the information and knowledge has survived, and great work has been done by historians and scientists, with the help of religious scholars and translators, to re-construct a working knowledge of the religious history, customs, and the role these beliefs played in everyday life in Sumer, Akkad, Assyria and Babylonia during this time. Mesopotamian religion is thought to have been a major influence on subsequent religions throughout the world, including Canaanite, Aramean, ancient Greek, and Phoenician religions, and also monotheistic religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Mandeanism and Islam. It is known that the god Ashur, among others, was still worshipped in Assyria as late as the 4th century CE.[2] Mesopotamian religion was polytheistic, worshipping over 2,100 different deities,[3] many of which were associated with a specific city or state within Mesopotamia such as Sumer, Akkad, Assyria, Assur, Nineveh, Ur, Uruk, Mari and Babylon. Some of the most significant of these deities were Anu, Ea, Enlil, Ishtar (Astarte), Ashur, Shamash, Shulmanu, Tammuz, Adad/Hadad, Sin (Nanna), Kur, Dagan, Ninurta, Nisroch, Nergal, Tiamat, Bel and Marduk. Historians, such as Jean Bottéro, have made the claim that Mesopotamian religion is the world's oldest religion,[4] although there are several other claims to that title. What is known about Mesopotamian religion comes from archaeological evidence uncovered in the region, particularly literary sources, which are usually written in cuneiform on clay tablets and which describe both mythology and cultic practices. Other artifacts can also be useful when reconstructing Mesopotamian religion. As is common with most ancient civilizations, the objects made of the most durable and precious materials, and thus more likely to survive, were associated with religious beliefs and practices. This has prompted one scholar to make the claim that the Mesopotamians' "entire existence was infused by their religiosity, just about everything they have passed on to us can be used as a source of knowledge about their religion."[5]
Although, a few isolated pockets in Assyria/Upper Mesopotamia aside, it largely died out by approximately 400 CE, Mesopotamian religion has still had an influence on the modern world, predominantly because much biblical mythology that is today found in Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Mandeanism was possibly originally based upon earlier Mesopotamian myths, in particular the Creation Myth, the Garden of Eden, The Great Flood, Tower of Babel and figures such as Ni**od and Lilith (the Assyrian Lilitu). In addition the story of Moses' origins shares a similarity with that of Sargon of Akkad, and the Ten Commandments mirror Assyrian-Babylonian legal codes to some degree. It has also inspired various contemporary neopagan groups to begin worshipping the Mesopotamian deities once more, albeit in a way often different from that of the Mesopotamian people themselves.
02/04/2025
🌿 Happy Akitu – 6775 🌿
Today marks the beginning of Year 6775, as celebrated in the Chaldean-Assyrian tradition of the ancient Mesopotamian calendar.
In the cities of old – Babylon, Nineveh, Uruk – Akitu marked a time of renewal. As spring returned to the land, so did hope.
It was a moment to reconnect with the rhythms of nature, to envision harmony between heaven and earth, rulers and people, soul and soil.
Today, as we face new challenges in our shared world, may this ancient day remind us:
🌱 That renewal is still possible.
🕊 That peace is not a dream of the past, but a duty of the present.
❤️ That dignity and love belong to all, across all borders and beliefs.
Let us walk forward with the wisdom of our ancestors and the courage to care for one another — as one humanity, under one sky.
Happy Akitu.
May 6775 be a year of healing.
01/04/2024
Happy Akitu!
Happy new year to all Assyrians, Chaldeans and Syriac people around the world!
But also to all people around the world, to remind us that spring is here and also hope for Love to bring peace and unite us all humans in this planet 🙏❤️
In the old Assyrian Calendar the Assyrian year began on the Vernal Equinox, which falls on March 21 in the Gregorian Calendar.
The first month of the Assyrian year is April (Neesan). To align with the Gregorian calendar, today’s Assyrians mark April first as the beginning of the new year.
The epoch for the Assyrian year is 4750 B.C., which is the date of the building of the first temple of Ashur, in the city of Ashur (present-day North Iraq).
In the Gregorian calendar, the Assyrian year is 4750 + the Gregorian Year. Example: 4750 + 2024 A.D. = 6774 Assyrian Year.
The festival is called "Akitu" in ancient Assyrian and "Kha b-Nisan" or "Ha b-Nison"( _ar. ܚܕ ܒܢܝܣܢ "First of Spring") in Neo-Aramaic.
It is celebrated by Assyrians around the world with parties, parades and many other ceremonies held in honor of the event.
In ancient times Assyrians celebrated new year on March 21, according to the ancient Assyrian calendar. In ancient times, the "Akitu" event were held in the first month of the year (Nissanu) in the Assyrian calendar.
The word "Kha" means one or first in the Assyrian language, thus it is dubbed "Kha b-Nissan". The date then and as it is now, is the very beginning of Spring.
In Assyria, during ancient times, this festival was the most important event on the year. People from all over the Empire came to either the political capital, Nineveh or the religious capital, Babylon and participated in the celebration. There were elaborate and magnificent processions to and from the great temple in Babylon called “Esagila”.
Although Iranians and other groups have been continuously celebrating this day on March 21 even after the fall of Assyrian Empire (In Iran the New Years Day is called "Noruz" meaning "New Day".) Celebration of Nissan after the decline of the Assyrian Empire had been in abeyance for many centuries until the mid-twenty century. At this time some Assyrian communities re-started celebrating Nissan. Since, at this time the Assyrians were Christians using Gregorian calendar, they moved their new year from March 21st to April 1st. This tradition would quickly spread among all Assyrians and now it is celebrated by Assyrians in all over the world.
In the Julian calendar, the vernal equinox moved gradually away from 21 March. The Gregorian calendar reform restored the vernal equinox to its original date, but since the festival was by now tied to the date, not the astronomical event, Kha b-Nisan remains fixed at 21 March in the Julian reckoning, corresponding to 1 April in the Gregorian calendar.
The Vernal equinox is celebrated throughout Greater Iran as Noruz (meaning "New Day") on 21 March.
However, in the ancient Assyrian, Akkadian and Babylonian traditions, the spring festival was celebrated in the first days of the month known as "Nisan" and the calendar adopted by the ancient Assyrians had the month "Nisan" at the beginning of the calendar lending to the term "Kha b-Nisan", or the "first of Nisan".
In 2002, Assyrians in Syria celebrated the event with a mass wedding of 16 couples and over 25,000 attendees.
After the formation of Turkey, Kha b-Nisan along with Nowruz were banned from public to celebrate.
One of the largest Assyrian New Year celebrations took place in Iraq in 2008. Public celebrations were not allowed by Saddam Hussein's regime prior to the start of the Iraq war.
The event was organized by the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Zowaa) and between 45,000 to 65,000 people took part in the parade.
In 2004, Hon. George Radanovich of the California State Assembly recognized the Assyrian New Year and extended his wishes to the Assyrian community .
This was later followed by a letter from the California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to the Assyrian community in California, congratulating them on the annual celebration.
Happy Akitu!
31/03/2023
Happy Akitu!
to all Assyrians, Chaldeans and Syriac people around the world!
wish you all Peace and Love 🙏❤️
Archaeologists has uncovered a 3400-year-old Mitanni Empire-era city once located on the Tigris River. The settlement emerged from the waters of the Mosul reservoir early this year as water levels fell rapidly due to extreme drought in Iraq.
SciTechDaily
Archaeological Bonanza: Ancient City Emerges From the Tigris River
Drought Reveals 3400-Year-Old Urban Center of the Mitanni Empire The Kingdom of Mitanni, also known as Hurri to the Hittites, Hanigalbat or Hani-Rabbat to the Assyrians, and Maryannu, Nahrin or Mitanni to Egyptians, was a powerful nation around the 16th century BC that stretched over portions of pr
31/03/2022
Happy Assyrian new year 6772 ! Happy Akitu!
In the old Assyrian Calendar the Assyrian year began on the Vernal Equinox, which falls on March 21 in the Gregorian Calendar.
The first month of the Assyrian year is April (Neesan). To align with the Gregorian calendar, today’s Assyrians mark April first as the beginning of the new year.
The epoch for the Assyrian year is 4750 B.C., which is the date of the building of the first temple of Ashur, in the city of Ashur (present-day North Iraq).
In the Gregorian calendar, the Assyrian year is 4750 + the Gregorian Year. Example: 4750 + 2022 A.D. = 6772 Assyrian Year.
The festival is called "Akitu" in ancient Assyrian and "Kha b-Nisan" or "Ha b-Nison"( _ar. ܚܕ ܒܢܝܣܢ "First of Spring") in Neo-Aramaic.
It is celebrated by Assyrians around the world with parties, parades and many other ceremonies held in honor of the event.
In ancient times Assyrians celebrated new year on March 21, according to the ancient Assyrian calendar. In ancient times, the "Akitu" event were held in the first month of the year (Nissanu) in the Assyrian calendar.
The word "Kha" means one or first in the Assyrian language, thus it is dubbed "Kha b-Nissan". The date then and as it is now, is the very beginning of Spring.
In Assyria, during ancient times, this festival was the most important event on the year. People from all over the Empire came to either the political capital, Nineveh or the religious capital, Babylon and participated in the celebration. There were elaborate and magnificent processions to and from the great temple in Babylon called “Esagila”.
Although Iranians and other groups have been continuously celebrating this day on March 21 even after the fall of Assyrian Empire (In Iran the New Years Day is called "Noruz" meaning "New Day".) Celebration of Nissan after the decline of the Assyrian Empire had been in abeyance for many centuries until the mid-twenty century. At this time some Assyrian communities re-started celebrating Nissan. Since, at this time the Assyrians were Christians using Gregorian calendar, they moved their new year from March 21st to April 1st. This tradition would quickly spread among all Assyrians and now it is celebrated by Assyrians in all over the world.
In the Julian calendar, the vernal equinox moved gradually away from 21 March. The Gregorian calendar reform restored the vernal equinox to its original date, but since the festival was by now tied to the date, not the astronomical event, Kha b-Nisan remains fixed at 21 March in the Julian reckoning, corresponding to 1 April in the Gregorian calendar.
The Vernal equinox is celebrated throughout Greater Iran as Noruz (meaning "New Day") on 21 March.
However, in the ancient Assyrian, Akkadian and Babylonian traditions, the spring festival was celebrated in the first days of the month known as "Nisan" and the calendar adopted by the ancient Assyrians had the month "Nisan" at the beginning of the calendar lending to the term "Kha b-Nisan", or the "first of Nisan".
In 2002, Assyrians in Syria celebrated the event with a mass wedding of 16 couples and over 25,000 attendees.
After the formation of Turkey, Kha b-Nisan along with Nowruz were banned from public to celebrate.
One of the largest Assyrian New Year celebrations took place in Iraq in 2008. Public celebrations were not allowed by Saddam Hussein's regime prior to the start of the Iraq war.
The event was organized by the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Zowaa) and between 45,000 to 65,000 people took part in the parade.
In 2004, Hon. George Radanovich of the California State Assembly recognized the Assyrian New Year and extended his wishes to the Assyrian community .
This was later followed by a letter from the California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to the Assyrian community in California, congratulating them on the annual celebration.
Happy Akitu!
14/02/2022
The Ziggurat (or Great Ziggurat) of Ur (Sumerian: 𒂍𒋼𒅎𒅍 é-temen-ní-gùru "Etemenniguru",
meaning "temple whose foundation creates aura")
is a Neo-Sumerian ziggurat in what was the city of Ur near Nasiriyah, in present-day Dhi Qar Province, Iraq.
The structure was built during the Early Bronze Age (21st century BC) but had crumbled to ruins by the 6th century BC of the Neo-Babylonian period, when it was restored by King Nabonidus.
Its remains were excavated in the 1920s and 1930s by Sir Leonard Woolley. Under Saddam Hussein in the 1980s, they were encased by a partial reconstruction of the façade and the monumental staircase. The Ziggurat of Ur is the best-preserved of those known from Iran and Iraq, besides the ziggurat of Dur Untash (Chogha Zanbil).
It is one of three well-preserved structures of the Neo-Sumerian city of Ur, along with the Royal Mausolea and the Palace of Ur-Nammu (the E-hursag).
OSLO, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Norwegian police said on Friday they had seized a large number of archaeological artefacts reported missing by Iraqi authorities, including what is presumed to be cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia.
The objects were found by the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Oekokrim), which assisted Norway's Ministry of Culture in the search.
The items had been part of a private collection in Norway, and while several witnesses were questioned there were no criminal charges, a police spokesperson told Reuters.
"In total, almost 100 objects of significance to the global cultural heritage have been seized," Oekokrim said in a statement.
Reuters
Trove of missing ancient Mesopotamian artefacts found in Norway
Norwegian police said on Friday they had seized a large number of archaeological artefacts reported missing by Iraqi authorities, including what is presumed to be cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia.
02/04/2025
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