Maronites | Sanjak of Alexandretta, Syria

Maronites -- Christians of Maronite Church -- from Mount Lebanon & surrounding regions, Levant -- name derived from Syrian Christian, Saint Maron -- followers migrated to Mount Lebanon from prior residence of Antioch -- Antioch formerly Greek city, site of early Christianity, in Anatolia -- subsequently fell to Islamic invaders -- sovereignty of Hatay province (capital the former Antioch) -- currently disputed with Syria Sanjak of Alexandretta (Hatay Province) -- province separated against stipulations of French Mandate of Syria -- subsequent to Syria's independence from Ottoman Empire post WWI -- Syria has never formally renounced title to Hatay Province -- earlier, Hatay Province controllers: --     -- Akkadian Empire (Semitic / Akkadian & Sumerian / now Iraq              /  Sumerian eventually assimilated) --     -- Amorite Kingdom (Semitic, Syrian) --     -- Hittites (Anatolian, Indo-European) --     -- Neo-Hittites (Hattena, giving Hatay name) = Syro-Hittites --     -- Neo-Hittite / Syro-Hittite languages: Luwian - language of Trojans Aramaic - ancient Aram, now Syria Phoenician - Semitic, Lebanon, Syria (lang. of Canaan) --     -- Assyrians (part Iraq, Syria, Turkey, part Iran)        -- capital:  Assur, (now Iraq) --     -- brief occupation:  Urartu (Ararat cognate) - Armenian --     -- Persians (Iran) --     -- Hellenistic Seleucid Empire (centre) - Macedonian --     -- Roman Empire regional centre --     -- 638 AD:  conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate --     -- 969 AD:  Antioch recaptured by Byzantine Empire --     -- 1084 AD:  captured by Seljuk Turk, Suleiman I --     -- 1098 AD:  captured by Crusaders --     -- 1268 AD:  captured by Mameluks (Arabic slave soldiers caste) -- -- Ottomans referred to Hatay Province region as 'sanjak' (governate of Alexandretta -- 1911:  majority Arab with smaller communities of Armenians & Turks -- considered by many to be traditionally part of Syria -- 1764 maps confirm this -- WWI Ottomans on losing side -- Alexandretta / Hatay Province occupied by British -- armistice of Mudros signed 1918 -- handed to France by British like rest of Syria -- Alexandretta / Hatay province within French mandate of Syria -- following signing of Treaty of Sevres (allies & turkey) -- treaty not ratified by Ottoman parliament or Turkish National Movement -- Treaty of Laussane (subsequent) -- also put Alexandretta / Hatay province with Syria -- Oct 1921 - French-Turkish treaty renders Alexandretta / Hatay autonomous -- Hatay / Alexandretta authonomous:  1921-1923 -- population inc. Turks, Arabs (of misc. religions), -- Greek Catholics, Syriacc-Maronites, Jews -- Syriacs, Kurds, Armenians -- 1923:  Hatay attached to State of Aleppo -- 1925:  Hatay directly attached to French mandate of Syria -- nonetheless, Turks remained in Hatay -- Mustafa Kemal argued Hatay had been 'Turkish homeland' for 4,000 years --  presuming that ancient peoples of Anatolia & Middle East --  eg. Sumerians & Hittites were related to Turks --  However, Turks first appeared in Anatolia --  during 11th Century invasion by Seljuk Turks --  who occupied Abbasid Empire eastern province & captured Baghdad --  1930s pan-Arab movement / suppressed by France & Turkey --  Republic of Hatay proclaimed 1938 --  joint French & Turkish military supervision -- 1939:  referendum - Hatay becomes Turkish province -- referendum / labelled phoney / rigged -- for referendum, Turkey crossed TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TURKS INTO HATAY TO VOTE -- Turks reportedly born Hatay but living elsewhere in Turkey -- note also:  League of Nations - 1938 registered Turkish voters no more than 46% of the population -- 1937 & 1938 Turkey govt had local authorities make lists of employees originally from Hatay -- those listed were sent by Turkish govt to Hatay to register as citizens & to vote     -- way for French to let Turks take over     -- in hope Turks would turn on Third Reich Germany -- Syrian president resigned in protest at French intervention in Syrian affairs -- French were obliged to refuse annexation under: -- Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence of 1936 -- Turkey then incorporated various districts into Hatay -- annexation then resulted in subsequent demographic changes -- inhabitants given choice between staying & becoming Turkish citizens -- or emigrating & acquiring citizenship of French mandated Syria or Greater Lebanon -- almost half Sunni Arabs leave -- many Armenian families (1,068) got to Beqaa Valley, Lebanon -- other Armenians fled to French Mandate of Syria -- total leaving for Syria estimated at 50,000 -- Syrians maintain land illegally ceded to Turkey by France (mandatory occupying power 1930s) -- Hatay is still considered integral part of Syrian territory -- Hatay known as:  Liwa' aliskenderun ('Sanjak of Alexandretta') rather than Turkish elected name of 'Hatay' -- Syrian maps still show Hatay as part of Syria    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatay_Province Sanjak of Alexandretta On behalf of the League of Nations, representatives of: France United Kingdom Netherlands Belgium Turkey prepared a constitution for Syrian Sanjak of Alexandretta new statute came into power in November 1937 Sanjak becoming 'distinct but not separated' from Syria on the diplomatic level linked to both France and Turkey militarily https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatay_State Antioch -- Antioch is the cradle of Christianity -- pivotal role in emergence of:     -- Hellenistic Judaism     -- early Christianity -- name 'Christian' first emerged in Antioch -- declined in significance Middle Ages -- due to:     -- warfare     -- repeated earthquakes     -- change in trade routes (after Mongol conquests) [wikipedia] COMMENT The French capitalists are as despicable as the English, and they're often in partnerships, I believe. Syria ought to be given a portion of France as compensation.  Turkey is right up there on the untrustworthy list.   *The list just got longer:  France, UK & Turkey robbed Syria, along with:  Netherlands & Belgium.

Anatolian Hittite & Byzantine Eagles Meet Hurrian Music & Antioch Dabke, Meet Christianity, Trade & Anat, Goddess of War

Hittite & Byzantine Eagles Hurrian Music & Antioch Dabke, Meet Christianity, Trade & Anat, Goddess of War  Hittite | Byzantine Eagles GIF Double-headed eagle -- Hittite origin (land of Hatti) -- Anatolia (now known as Turkey, in Asia Minor) see: Sphinx gate of Hattusha 14th c. BC depicts:  ruler standing on two-headed eagle clasping 2 hares -- site at remains of large Hittite structure -- a royal necropolis of 13 tombs dating c. 2500 BC -- (in what is now Turkish Alaca Hüyük), Boğazköy) Double-headed eagle -- re-appears High Middle Ages, c. 10th Century or 11th Century -- notably used by Byzantine Empire -- representations also:  France, Bulgaria, Spain (then Islamic) -- from 13th Century widespread use:     -- Seljuk Sultanate of Rum     -- Mamluk Egypt (Mamluk = slave-soldier)     -- Holy Roman Empire     -- Serbia     -- Russia (evolved into triple-headed eagle) -- 'polycephaly' = more than single head -- bicephalic / dicephalic = 2 heads -- tricephalic = 3 heads -- mythological beasts depicted Ancient Near East -- today:  Middle East -- ie Mesopotamia (Anatolia, Syria, Iraq) -- + Levant + ancient Egypt     -- Sumer (indig. Sumer, Akkadian assim. / then Assyria & Babylonia     -- Egypt     -- Elam - Susa / absorbed into Assyrian emp. / then Iranian Persians     -- Akkad - location unknown /several proposals     -- Babylonia (Iraq)     -- Canaan - Levant     -- Hittite Empire (Anatolia)     -- neo-Assyrian Empire (Middle East, capital in Iraq)     -- Urartu, bib. Kingdom of Ararat (Armenia)     -- neo-Babylonian Empire     -- Medes -- intensive year-round agriculture -- first urban settlements -- centralised govt / empires -- organised religion -- organised warfare -- first writing & law codes -- deeply influenced by spiritual beliefs -- believed that divine action influenced all mundane matters -- believed in divination (predict future) -- Omens & records of major events inscribed http://hubert-herald.nl/TwoHeadedEagle.htm http://www.britannica.com/place/Alaca-Huyuk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Near_East https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-headed_eagle This is a lovely page http://hubert-herald.nl/TwoHeadedEagle.htm  Anatolian -- was branch of Indo-European -- Hittite: separate Anatolian branch of Indo-European family -- likely Anatolians reached Near East from north     -- via Balkans or Caucasus, 3rd millennium BC -- Anatolians + Tokharians = first wave Indo=Europeans migrating -- from Eurasian steppe -- they subjugated & later blended with indigenous Semitic tribes -- had wagons (but likely pre war-chariots era) -- earliest mention:  Assyrian mercantile texts 19thC. Kanesh -- Kaneš = known to Hittites as Neša (occasionally:  Anisa) -- Hattic, Hittite & Hurrian city -- contained large colonised merchant quarter (Karum) Old Assyrian Empire -- site of earliest traces of Hittite language -- ie earliest attestation of any Indo-European language -- dated to 20th Century BC -- native term for Hittite language:  nešili / language of 'Neša' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Anatolians http://modrodnovery.com/the-scythians-and-thracians-slavic-roots-in-late-antiquity/ Other of interest:   -- Hittite cosmology two versions:     -- Hurrian myth (pre-dating invasion)     -- other Semitic (Babylonian) cult *article says 'second' (presumably Babylonian) -- has hallmarks of Indo-European cosmology -- concept of dying god introduced *Find this a bit confusing:  why would Babylonian have hall-marks of Indo-European?  Or, do I misunderstand? -- Hittite religion described as strikingly similar -- to Scytho-Slavic practice -- divination by observing the flight patterns of birds -- voice of the goddess 'Bird Mother Sva' (Book of Veles) -- healing rituals were conducted by transferring sickness -- ritually adorned animal sent forth bearing the disease -- staple among eastern European folk magicians -- ancient shamanic roots -- Hittites, like the Scythians and Slavs,  -- understood their gods to be great ancestors -- Hittite kings were not viewed as god incarnate (unlike Egyptians) -- ** ascended to such status only after death  ** -- cremations took place on raised scaffolding -- libations poured before pyre -- this is signature of Indo-European origin -- Hittites = myth of Thunder God who marries Sun Goddess -- unique to pre-Kurgan, indigenous European cultures -- remains of this mythos now only in northern Slavic & Finno-Ugric cultures of Baltic coast -- Hittites called capital Hattusha:  'the land of the seven streams' -- proto-Slavs came from land: 'seven rivers beyond the sea' -- poss. reference to Anatolia, which borders Ukraine -- Ukraine land of Slavic ethno-genesis -- reason to believe that the Kurds are the descendants -- of eastward diaspora of Hatti ruling class that founded the Hittite Empire -- Hatti may have mixed with other Indo-European tribes (east & west) -- namely:  Mitanni class that ruled Hurians -- & the Luwians, who arrived from Balkans -- Luwians had dying god via cult of Cybele & Attis -- Mittani worshiped early Vedic pantheon (later Avestan, Mithra) also dying god -- ‘Kaveh the Blacksmith’ is Kurd hero versus Assyrian Empire -- Modern Zoroastrians & Pagan Kurds honour Kaveh victory -- Kaveh legend was co-opted by the Persian nobility -- to lend credibility to new Zoroastrian religion -- myth may have even older roots -- Hasameli, Hittite god of metalworkers and craftsmen -- Pagan Kurd Jashn-e-mehregan celebration of Kaveh victory -- coincides with Slavic harvest days (August 5 & September 22) -- hails victory of Perun over Veles -- first autumn rain the blood of the Cosmic Serpent (Veles) -- spilled by a Divine Warrior (Perun) -- pagan Slavs built ritual bonfires top mountains & hills -- summer solstice -- epic climb & triumphant decent of Zagros by Kaveh mirrors -- cyclical dualism present in Slavic religion -- Slavs built altars to deity atop mountains & hills -- &  to chthonic diety near caves, rivers & town squares -- Slavic Croats, or Hrvati -- descendants of the Arachosian (Persian Harahvaiti) Scythians -- Zagreb - poss. derived from:  Zagros -- considerable Indo-Iranian ancestry (DNA) -- east-to-west circular trajectory of Hittite-Mitanni-Median-Scythian-Slavic continuum -- out of Anatolia in unbroken line - unlikely -- exiled Hatti & Mitanni ruling classes -- formed the foundation of proto Indo-Iranian language family -- some may have merged with Armenians & Georgians -- who occupied the Caucus region since the 12th century BC -- Slav Svarog, celestial god of fire & metallurgy Scythian likely -- elevation of altar indicates celestial nature -- blood-fed sword indicates patron of warriors -- periodic burning of altar indicates the primacy of fire -- Slavs worshipped poly-cephalic gods  -- bore two, three- sometimes 7 aspects -- Svarog:  both fit warrior (by day) & lame smith (by night) -- see:  two heads of Vedic Agni -- Hittite Hasameli & Kurdish Kaveh associated:  war & forge -- Slavs viewed their gods as great ancestors -- chthonic nymph goddess ties Slavic, Kurdish, Greek, Scythian, Median and Hittite lore together -- Hittites worshipped the androgynous underworld God/Goddess Lelwanni, or the pourer -- Medians & Persians honoured Aredvi Sura Anahita -- known in Armenia as the 'Virgin-Mother of Mithra' -- Scythian cult of Argimpasa presided by female oracle-priestess -- likeness linked to Greek nymph & Kurdish goddess Shamaran -- 'King of the snakes' / gender ambiguity -- Slavic Goddess Mat Siri Zemlja depicted with phallus -- like Cybele or Isis -- snakes are sacred to her -- Kurdish Shamaran goddess, snake depictions -- dragons are bringers of storm clouds in Slavic religion -- goddess Dodola of South Slavs, is pourer who ends drought -- not unique:  concept all over world source http://modrodnovery.com/the-scythians-and-thracians-slavic-roots-in-late-antiquity/ Music - Hurrian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viMbnj_Ei2A&index=21&list=PLnOSH5j1sQh9AKl6-xab0tbGm-GyNM_h9 3,400 year old Hurrian Hymn. c.1400 BCE discovered in Ugarit (now Ras Shamra) - sea port ancient northern Canaan (now modern Syria) written in Cuneiform script   source http://www.israel-a-history-of.com/ugarit.html While discovered in modern day Syria, the Hurrians were not Syrian Hurrians were from modern day Anatolia Fragmentary Hurrian Hymn on clay tablets = dedicated to Nikkal, wife of the moon god SOURCE | Michael Levy (above & here) Ur Kasdim -- identified by some as Urkesh -- Urkesh, capital of Hurrian kingdom (now Syria, north-east) -- birthplace of Jewish patriarch Abraham -- not definitive / multiple other locations suggested https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur_Ka%C5%9Bdim Dabke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E106M4VuP9U Antioch (now in Turkey:  Antakaya, Hatay Province) -- once Akkadian -- then Amorite -- then succession of Hittites -- then neo-Hittite 'Hattena' -- then Assyrians -- then Uraartu (now Armenians) -- then Persians -- centre of Hellenistic Seleucid empire -- home to 4 Greek cities of Syrian tetrapolis -- important regional centre of Roman Empire -- 638 CE:  conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate -- 969 CE:  Antioch recaptured by Byzantine Empire -- 1084 CE:  captured by Suleiman I, Sultan of Rum    (later Anatolian Seljuks) -- 1086 CE:  passed to Sultan of Aleppo (ruler of Syrian Seljuks) -- 1098  CE:  captured by Crusaders -- became centre of Principality of Antioch -- 1268 CE:  Hatay captured from Crusaders by Mameluks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatay_Province   Antioch Syrian Antioch -- ancient Greek-Roman City -- eastern site of Orontes River -- Antioch founded near end 4th Century BC -- by Seleucus I Nicator (general of Alexander the Great) -- strategic re trade:     -- spice trade     -- Silk Road     -- Persian Royal Road -- rivalled Alexandria -- main centre of Hellenistic Judaism -- end of Second Temple period (2nd Temple destroyed 70 AD) -- Antioch is the cradle of Christianity -- pivotal role in emergence of:     -- Hellenistic Judaism     -- early Christianity -- name 'Christian' first emerged in Antioch Antioch:  Hellenistic Judaism & early Christianity http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Articles/the_travels_of_paul.htm -- declined in significance Middle Ages -- due to:     -- warfare     -- repeated earthquakes     -- change in trade routes (after Mongol conquests) -- settlement of Meroe pre-dated Antioch -- shrine to Semitic goddess Anat / 'Persian Artemis' -- Anat is a violent war-goddess -- virgin sister-lover of great god:  Ba'al Hadad -- Ba'al son of Dagan, sometimes son of El -- fierce, wild and furious warrior in battle, -- wading knee-deep in blood     -- striking off heads     -- cutting off hands     -- binding heads to her torso     -- binding hands in her sash -- linked to Judaeans & Canaanites -- Book of Zohar:  Anat among     the holiest of angelic powers  under the name of Anathiel -- Anat revived as woman's name by Zionists https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anat -- Hurrians spoke Hurro-Urartian, called Hurrian -- lived Anatolia & Northern Mesopotamia -- largest most influential multi-ethnic kingdom:  Mitannni -- Mitanni (poss. Indo-Europeans) ruling class over Hurians -- Indo-European speaking Hittite Emp. Anatolia,     large Hurrian population -- significant Hurrian influence on Hittite mythology -- Hurrian & Urartian languages -- related to North Caucasian languages -- present-day Armenians = amalgam of Hurrians & Urartians -- Hurrian, language isolate - not related to Semitic    or Indo-European -- 2000 BCE:  adopted Assyrian Akkadian cuneiform script -- Mitanni closely associated with horses -- 'Ishuwa' town meant 'horse land' -- Hattusha texts re Hurrian training of horses -- terminology re horses:  Indo-Aryan loan-words Išuwa / Ishuwa -- ancient Hittite name for neighbouring Anatolian kingdom -- later Luwian neo-Hittite state -- state:  Kammanu (c. 1200 BC - 712 BC) -- proto-Armenian speaking -- main city:  Melid -- city conquered by Hittites 14th Century BC -- Melid was base of Hittite king:  Suppiluliuma I -- on way to sack Mitanni capital Wassukanni -- Wassukanni location unknown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melid -- Kikkuli -- author of a chariot horse training text -- written in Hittite, c. 1400 BC -- Hittite power was their charioteers   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikkuli -- 13th century BCE all of the Hurrian states vanquished -- Hittites civilisation was greatly influenced by the Hurrians -- knowledge of Hurrian culture from cuneiform tablets -- found at Hittite capital:  Hattusha -- in addition to other sources -- Hurrian culture significant impact on religion of Hittites -- Hittite syncretism: merger of Old Hittite & Hurrian religions -- note:  Kushuh (Kušuh) MOON GOD -- Kušuh symbols:  SUN & CRESCENT MOON, on iconography -- Hurrian settlements (in now):  Turkey, Syria, Iraq -- heart of Hurrian world:  modern border Syria & Turkey  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurrians HITTITE EMPIRE | DOCUMENTARY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2mu2Atduas At the moment, I'm more in the mood for this up-tempo dabke music. Really enjoyable playing with images, reading history and listening to music.  Wish I could go faster than I'm capable of going.