Baghdad & Beyond

I  R  A  Q Ancient Babylon Lion of Babylon, portion of Ishtar Gate US-ANGLO CAPITALIST EMPIRE 2003 INVASION U.S. CAPITALIST INVADER Thanksgiving in Baghdad, Iraq, 2003  ‘US illegally obtained and kept thousands of Iraq’s cultural treasures’ https://www.rt.com/op-edge/iraq-war-cultural-artifacts-553/ https://www.rt.com/op-edge/iraq-war-cultural-artifacts-553/ http://archive.is/769Nh US-ANGLO CAPITALISTS DESTROYED IRAQ 1.  1991 occupation 2.  2003 occupation US-ANGLO CAPITALISTS ROBBED IRAQ Currency stolen Gold artefacts & gold bars stolen antiques stolen billions of dollars from Iraq central bank funds transferred to US without any paper trail precious artefacts looted priceless historic DOCUMENTATION by the TON stolen documents moved from Iraq Foreign Ministry & state security agencies to USA by Adnan Makiya with the help of the occupation authorities allegedly for the Iraq Memory Foundation operation had been planned long before Iraq invasion documents were then sold to American university Iraq state owned valuable Jewish archives centuries-old documents stolen by USA who had NO RIGHT to move local cultural and material values in fact, had duty to preserve same Extensive destruction of many archaeological sites especially in Babylon city was first occupied by US forces then later handed to Polish troops Poles:  used heavy armour, tanks & helicopter Poles:  did construction work for military infrastructure & seriously damaged many archaeological sites in area US occupation authorities offered pittance for restoration:  $20 million versus $1 billion sought of US State Dept. (which did not respond) Americans allowed museums to be looted National Museum in Iraq, looted in 3 days American invaders did not act to keep exhibits safe & are therefore responsible https://www.rt.com/op-edge/iraq-war-cultural-artifacts-553/ http://archive.is/769Nh @WikiLeaks  @WikiLeaks Baghdad name (and culture) is pre-Islamic Indo-European name origin & Middle Persian Bagh (god) + dad (given by) translated to:  'God's Gift' Old Persian first portion traced to boghu, related to Slavic bog (god) second portion, dadāti, Middle Persian (new Persian, Mihrdad) related to Hellenistic form Mithridates (god of Mithra) dat = archaic form of  'dad'   /    Latin 'dat'  /   English 'donor' thus:  'Gift of Mithra' (Hellenised version) Russian look-up: = bagh + dad = god   + give = бог   +  дать   (Russian) = bog  +  dat      (Russian / Latin script) wikipedia thefreedictionary [info from various Wikpedia, unless otherwise marked] Mithra Zoroastrian angelic divinity ('yazata') of: covenant & oath divinity of contracts Mithra also judicial figure, protector of truth & guardian of cattle, harvest & the waters Roman  Mithraic Mysteries Mystery Religion known as:  Mithraism attributed to Persia or Zoroastrian sources related to Mithra but - modern scholars note dissimilarities b/w 1.  Persian Mithra worship 2.  Roman Mithraic mysteries Mithra from proto-Indo-Iranian:  'mitra' (root:  'mi' - 'to bind') meaning:   THAT WHICH CAUSES BINDING ie Avestan word for:   COVENANT, CONTRACT, OATH became:  mihr Mithra - no mention in Gathas (oldest Zoroastrian texts) or in the Yasna ('worship') scriptures but Mithra is member of IRANIAN AHURIC TRIAD: 1.  Ahura Mazda 2.  Ahura Berezaiti (Apam Napat) 3.  Mithra Ahura Mazda (Avstan):  God, lit. 'Wise Lord', the Supreme Being of the Zoroastrians. (Var: (Pahlavi) 'Ohrmazd') here 'Ahura' = 'Lord'  (in Avestan language, Iranic) sacred language closely related to Vedic Sanskrit Vedic Sanskrit, oldest preserved Indo-Aryan language (Iranic lang.) Vedic Sanskrit orally-preserved as part of Srauta Vedic chanting pre-dates alphabetic writing in India by several centuries Śrauta = belonging to śruti (Hinduism) Śruti = that which is heard / ancient religious texts, central cannon of Hinduism Avestan (Zend), East Iranian, Zoroastrian Ahu (Avestan):     ("lord") spiritual lord or master, often found in conjunction with 'ratu' (judge) - here Avestan, aka Zend  / Eastern Iranian language of Zoroastrian scripture area:  ancient     Arachosia     Aria     Bactria     Margiana Yaz culture of Bactria & Margiana (1500 BC - 1100 BC) reflects early East Iranian culture of Avesta likely Zoroastrian practice of sky burial (corpse exposure) therefore no burials found corresponds to (now):     Afghanistan, entirety     Pakistan, part     Tajikistan, part     Turkmenistan, part     Uzbekistan, part https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Aruti https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arauta https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_Sanskrit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avestan AUDIO | #1 Artaxerxes II (r. to 358 B.C.) trilingual inscription at Susa Old Persian, Elamite (Elam, now Southern Iran) + Babylonian 'Ahuramazda, Anahita, & Mithra protect me against all evil' Zoroastrian calendar, the 11th day of month & 7th month:  dedicated to Mithra 1925 Iranian civil calendar adopted Zoroastrian month names /  seventh month is:  Mihr Mithra distinct from Sun divinity (Hvare.khshaeta 'Radiant Sun') but evolved into being co-identified with Sun, taking over the Radiant Sun role --------------------- Zend Avesta sacred book of the Parsis few remaining followers of religion of Persia (after overthrow of Sassanian dynasty (A.D. 642) (Islamic invasion)) aka Dualism, Mazdeism, Magism, Zorastrianism, Fire Worship Avesta = x5 centuries preceding 'Christ' & x7 centuries after 'Christ', = the prevailing ideas Iran in that time Iran / Parsis, Avesta / Zorastrianism influence on: heresiarchs - heretical movement(s) (from Gk. 'sect') Judaism Islam In terms of religious thought, blending of Aryan mind with Demitic, opening second stage of Aryan thought  "Zoroaster and Plato were treated as if they had been philosophers of the same school" [here] http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12894/pg12894.txt --------------------- Hvare-Khshaeta Avestan language name of Zorastrian divinity, 'Radiant Sun' hvar = 'sun'  / khshaeta = 'radiant' (also 'glory', 'splendour') from Indo-Iranian root:  svar 'to shine' from which 'Surya' (Vedic Sanskrit) - 'sun' - also derived (Middle Persian lang.) contracted to:  'Khwarshed (new Persian lang.) continued as:  Khurshed / Khorshid 6th Yasht dedicated to Hvare-Khshaeta ie.  Avesta's chant/prayer to the Sun 11th Day of Zoroastrian calendar dedicated to:  Hvare-Khshaeta tradition eclipsed by Mithra as sun divinity due to late syncretic influence & possible conflation with Akkadian 'Shamash' deity Sun is domain of Hvare-Khshaeta / distinct from 'Covenant' source The Esoteric Codex: Zoroastrianism By Gerardo Eastburn --------------------- 11. Khwarshed (Av. Hvar Khshaeta) The Shining Sun http://www.avesta.org/zcal.html *NOTE:  looks like Wikipedia entry is wrong (says 16th day, rather than 11th).  Therefore amended this info to correspond with Eastburn info. EDIT: it was my mistake ... not Wikipedia. Should have checked there first. Wasted time confirming & then checking Wikipedia. Would have saved me time, going back straight away. LOL According to Wikipedia entry, conflation with: 1.  Babylonian Shamash 2.  Greek Apollo with whom Mithra shares other characteristics (eg.  judicial) see:  angelic messenger saviour figures of Manichaeans Sasanian / Sasanid Zorastrian dynasty - ruled Iran:  226 AD - 2 651 AD Capitals 1.  Istakhr (224–226 AD), southern Iran, Pars Province 2.  Ctesiphon (226–637 AD) - in (now) Iraq, 35 km south of Baghdad Ctesiphon was largest city in world 570 AD to fall 637 AD (Muslim conquest) Ctesiphon = Hellenised 'Ṭūsfūn' / 'Tisbōn'  (Armenian 'Tizbon') Old Testament:  Kasfia/Casphia  (wonder if this has anythng to do with Caspian Sea name?) Caspian from (Gk.) Kaspioi pre-Indo-European identified with Kassites (assimilated / disappeared) ruled Babylonia almost 400 years, after fall of Babylon to Hittites c. 1595 BC their deity:  Shuqamuna rule ended 12th C. BC, coquered by Elam (part (now) Iran) Elam known as Susiana, capital Susa Ctesiphon founded in the late 120s BC. on site of military camp by Iranians (Parthian) merged with old Hellenistic capital:  Seleucia (& other nearby settlements) reason for Parthian relocation westward of capital:  Scythian incursions Seleucia became the metropolis,    like the Babylon metropolis of ancient times Ctesiphon = major military objective of Roman empire (eastern wars) Ctesiphon captured by Romans x5 times Septimus Severus Emperor - sacked Ctesiphon     & sold thousands into slavery   Ctesiphon  western side of city = Veh-Ardashir ('the good city of Ardashir') Veh-ardashir was originally Seleucia was populated by wealthy Jews & known by them as 'Mahoza' Veh-Ardashir, seat of Nestorian patriarch Nestorianism -  emphasizes the disunion between the human and divine natures of Yeshua / 'Christ' advanced by Nestorius (386–450), Patriarch of Constantinople leading to conflicts, incl.  with Cyril of Alexandria Nestorius condemned as heretical at councils supporters relocated to Sasanian Empire, affiliated with local Christians became:  Church of the East (aka Nestorian Church) ie.  Syriac tradition of Eastern Christianity (Syriac - Syrian blend of Greek & Syrian / Aramaic - Edessa origin) later, mid 1500s schisms re Nestorian Church *lots of battles over Ctesiphon / various Romans Emperor Julian killed after battle outside of the Ctesiphon walls, in 363 AD Syrian Language origin of Syrian language = city of Edessa, Urha = Aramaic  Şanlıurfa - ie.  Edessa (Uṙha) Seleucus I Nicator Seleukos Nikator ('Conqueror') b. Europus, Macedonia c. 358 BC d. 281 Thrace, Macedonia on death of Alexander the Great & succession struggles rose from governor of Babylon to king of empire   centring on Syria & Iran founder of Seleucid kingdom Audio | #2 [ really like this rhythm ] Edessa (Uṙha) ancient upper Mesopotamia city (now in Turkey & known as:  Şanlıurfa) founded by:  Seleucus I Necator  (General under Alex. the Great) 2nd Century BC Seleucid (ancient Macedonian) rule disintegrated result of wars with Parthia (Iranians/Persians) Edessa (Uṙha) kingdom      established by Nabataean / Arab tribes (4 centuries) (what were the Arabs doing here?  must be due to disintegration of Seleucid Empire (ancient Macedonian) ... Arab squatters ... LOL ) under protectorate of Parthians (Iranians/Persians) under protectorate of Armenia was Armenian Mesopotamia capital city then under Romans, after sack & capture by Trajan a frontier city, border of Sassanid Persia (Zoroastrian Persia) 260 AD - Shahanshah Shapur I vs. Roman Empire Roman army defeated and captured by Persians, including Emperor Valerian Emperor capture was a first-time occurrence literary language of tribes kingdom in Edessa (Uṙha) = Aramaic Syriac developed from Aramaic Hellenistic culture were eclipsed in Edessa (Uṙha) Edessa (Uṙha) was rebuilt as Justinopolis, by Emperor Justin Edessa (Uṙha) changed hands a couple of times (Persian & Roman under Armenian Byzantine Emperor of Rome) Muslim invaders, Islamic conquest of Levant 638 AD 1031 AD - Edessa (Uṙha) returned to Byzantines by Arab governor then retaken by Arabs then held by Greeks then by Armenians then by Seljuk Turks (1087) then by Crusaders (1099) Turk Zengi capture & slaughter of most inhabitants + Latin archbishop (Siege of Edessa) sizeable Armenian population in Edessa (Uṙha)  /  birthplace of Matthew of Edessa, Armenian historian 12th Century - ruled by the Sultans of Aleppo (Ayyubids, centred Egypt, Kurdish origin) then Sultanate of Rum (Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate, Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim state of Seljuk Emp.) then Mongol ruled  (Mongol sacking of Baghdad, if account is correct, was brutal) then Mameluks ('owned slave') military caste Egypt, slave soldiers, many Balkan origins     Arabic 'faris' / knights     weapons - saif (sword), spear, lance, javelin, arrows, clubs then Akkoyunlu,the White Sheep Turkomans (Koyunlu) - Sunni Turkic then Safavids (significant dynasty of Persia, after Muslim conquest - Shia, Kurdish & Azerbaijani mix w/ other) 1890 - Muslim pop. of Edessa less than 50% then 1517 to 1918 by Ottoman Empire   [a little off track, but very interesting & change of hands probably accompanied like changes of hand in adjoining regions] Prophet Mani (aka Manichaeus, Manes) philosophy of moral dualism:  good / evil Mani, b. 216 AD, Mesopotamia (Iran) - ruled by Persia (Sassanid Empire) origins:  Jewish-Christian raised in Jewish-Christian baptism Gnostic sect:  Elcesaites Mani writings in Syraic Aramaic primary language of Babylon, administrative & cultural (Sassanid Empire) = Eastern Middle Aramaic in three dialects:     1.  Judeo-Aramaic (language of Talmud)     2.  Mandean Aramaic  (Southern Levant)     3.  Syriac Aramaic at time Manichaeism was spreading: Zoroastrianism was well established and popular & Christianity was growing in social & political influence although Manichaeism had fewer adherents, many were HIGH RANKING POLITICAL FIGURES Mani was backed by Persian Empire but fell out of favour with subsequent generation of Persian royalty Mani saw himself as providing an alternative to the incomplete teachings of:     - Buddha     - Zoroaster     - Yeshua Manichaeism may have influenced the Bogomils, Paulicians, and Cathars (dualism)  /   but few records left by these groups COMMENT:  must have also influenced Christianity, as there is a concept of moral good/evil & a concept of heaven/hell, unless that comes from Judaism ... although the Jews aren't into the hellish afterlife concept, I think ... too lazy to go checking the ins and outs of that. But Judaism appears very big on the moral preaching and promotion of 'do-gooding', so they must also see the world in terms of dualism? Can you have two views?  One close up and the other distant?  From a distant point of view:  I don't think I believe in any ultimate good/bad, just as there is no universal anything. As in, there is no universal principle that is applicable or legitimate & there is no universal 'good'. Everything must be neutral and indifferent, and our surroundings are just assigned a meaning by individuals who wish to make sense of their surroundings, and meanings are assigned, depending on what individuals/groups desire or value.   I'm not 100% on that, but I'm leaning strongly that way.   'Bad' is anything I don't want ... LOL EDIT *Might have to revise that a little.  Seeing Iraq being robbed of national treasures by US-Anglo capitalists is sickening.  I don't know what that is, but that's just not right. Manichaeism sporadic and intermittent existence in west incl. Spain France, northern Italy, Balkans, for 1,000 years (plus other regions) Manichaeans tried to assimilate their religion with Islam in Arab Islamic empires early period of the Arab Islamic empire, Manichaeism gained many followers significant appeal among Muslim elites / some became dualists Abbasids (early period) =  Manichaean persecution Third Abbasid caliph al-Mahdi persecuted the Manichaeans established inquisition against Manichaeans persecution ended:  780s 296 AD - Diocletian, Roman emperor ordered all Manichaean leaders to be burnt alive along with the Manichaean scriptures Roman successors = policy of persecution 382 AD - Theodosius I  = issued decree of death for all Manichaean monks religion attacked & persecuted by:     1.  Christian Church     2.  Roman state almost disappearing in Western Europe in 5th Century AD & from eastern Roman Empire in 6th Century AD Persecuted by the Chinese, as well Middle Ages - Neo-Manichaeism emerging movements described as 'Manichaean' by Catholic Church 1184 Inquisition:  persecuted as Christian heresies persecuted included: Cathar Churches of Western Europe Paulican movement (from Armenia) Bogomils, Bulgaria Mani seemed to be obsessed with 'evil' denied omnipotence of 'god' contended two opposite powers taught dualistic view of good & evil 'god' vs. 'satan' notions human / soul is battleground soul defines person - influence both light & dark very involved explanation re good, evil, World of Light, Shekhinas, fallen angel etc. Sounds like Kabbalah influence (I think) ... yep, I'd say so: Manichaeism evolved in proximity to 2 other new Aramaic religious phenomena 1.  Talmudic Judaism 2.  Babylonian Mandaeism (manda / knowledge) - Gnosticism, Southern Levant to Meso. Zbigniew Brzezinski used the phrase "Manichaean paranoia"  (2007) re US President George W. Bush's world view re Bush notion that he "is leading forces of good against the empire of evil" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaeism [info from various other Wikpedia, unless otherwise marked] Iranian-Indian Link Early migrations would perhaps explain the Aryan and Indian connection.   Early Aryan migration There was a split in the Aryans of what became the Iran variety, occurring in what is currently Uzbekistan. One branch of Aryans of the Iranian kind occupied the Iranian region and the other invaded the Indian region (the Punjab): source:  www.slideserve.com Vedic 1.  of or relating to Veda or Vedas, variety of Sankstrit     (or the Hindu culture that produced same) 2.  ancient Aryan / European settlers in India     originators of many of the traditions preserved in the Vedas *so far, the term 'Indo-European' makes no sense, when European/Aryan moves into Indian, rather than vice versa -  oldest body of sacred Hindu texts composed in Sanskrit - dating from c. 1000 BC Veda = 'knowledge' (Sanskrit) Hinduism - caste system - belief in reincarnation - belief in supreme being - opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth Sanskrit:  now used in India only for religious purposes   Know I've read about Mani before ... but I have trouble remembering this stuff, so I'm enjoying it all over again. Those photos of American capitalist troops in Iraq are sickening. *Finding it hard to understand the Iranian connection to India & Hinduism. Must be result of Persian Empire (or Iranian) expanse?  Given that sacred Hindu texts are in Iranic form going back to East Iranian Zoroastrian times, there must therefore be a connection between Zoroastrianism & Hinduism? *Stumbled on migrations.  So part of the connection between Iran (Aryan) and India is the Aryan migrations.

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.

Rasputin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvDMlk3kSYg LOL ... I'm boring.   I only like the same stuff all the time. Battle of Jericho { Book of Joshua } -- first battle of Israelites -- conquest of Canaan -- walls of Jericho fell after Joshua's Israelite army -- marched around Jericho blowing trumpets -- Noah cursed Canaan to become a slave -- god gave land of the Canaanites to Abraham & his descendants -- descendants of Abraham:  children of Israel -- themselves slaves (Egypt) -- brought out of Egypt by god (through Moses) -- brought to promised land of Canaan -- Moses instructed them to seize the land by conquest -- Moses placed them under command of Joshua -- Joshua sent spies to Jericho -- Jericho first city of Canaan to be taken -- land in fear of Israel & their god -- Israelites marched around walls once every day for 7 days -- with priests & Ark of Covenant -- on 7th day, marched 7x around walls -- the priests blew their ram's horns -- Israelites raised a great shout -- the walls of the city fell HEREM -- pursuant to god's law of 'herem', Israelites took no slaves -- pursuant law of 'herem', Israelites took no plunder -- pursuant to god's law of herem Israelites slaughtered:     -- every man     -- every woman     -- every child -- in Jericho -- Rahab spared only & her family -- Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute who had sheltered the spies -- Joshua 6:1-27 herem - boycott herem - expulsion (from community) herem - (war or property), belief:               any property imperilling               Jewish RELIGIOUS life               should be destroyed herem - priestly gift / object devoted to god Tell es-Sultan:   site of Jericho -- destruction occurred c. 1500 BC -- during well-attested campaign period -- Jericho deserted throughout mid-late 13th Century -- a small unwalled settlement built 15th Century -- but tell unoccupied to 10th/9th centuries -- walls of Jericho collapsed & Jericho suffered inferno, per bible accounts -- pieces of pottery & other evidence place event c. 1400s BC -- book of Joshua holds little of historical value -- written by authors far removed from time depicted -- written to illustrate theological theme:     -- Israel & Israel leaders ARE JUDGED BY:     -- OBEDIENCE to     -- TEACHINGS & LAWS (the covenant)     -- set down in BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY         - Devārīm, '[spoken] words)       Opening phrase:  Eleh ha-devarim: "These are the words ..." -- book consists of x3 sermons or speeches -- delivered to the Israelites by Moses -- on the plains of Moab -- shortly before they enter the Promised Land Levitical caste (priestly) believed to have provided authors of book -- believed to reflect economic needs & social status of Levetical caste -- most significant verse is Deuteronomy 6:4: -- definitive statement of Jewish identity: -- the Shema Shema "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one." Summary of ha-devarim contents (book Deuteronomy): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuteronomic_Code -- journey through wilderness:    from Horeb (Sinai) to Kadesh to Moab - recalled -- events at Mount Horeb (Mt. Sinai) - recalled     -- giving of Ten Commandments     -- family heads urged to instruct in law those under them     -- warnings against serving gods other than 'Yahweh'     -- land promised to Israel is praised     -- Israelites urged to obedience -- laws governing Israel's:     -- worship     -- appointment & regulation of community & religious leaders     -- social regulation     -- confession of identity & loyalty -- blessings & curses for those who keep or break the law -- Israel exhorted to obedience -- Joshua installed as Moses' successor -- Moses delivers the law to Levites (priests) -- Moses ascends Mount Nebo / Pisgah -- Moses dies & is buried by god -- narrative of Devārīm is interrupted by x2 songs:     -- Song of Moses     -- Blessing of Moses -- worship of Hebrew God  -- as sole deity of Israel = only permissible religion -- sealed by greatest prophets Deuteronomic Code -- is contained in ha-devarim -- code composed of several mitzvot (commandments, Heb. pl. mitzvah) -- code composed of several mitzvot (commandments, Heb. singular mitzvah) -- composed of approx. one-third of mitzvot of the Torah -- therefore Deuteronomic Code = a major constituent of Jewish Law -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuteronomic_Code Priestly Code |  Torat Kohanim -- Contrast with:  Priestly Code -- Heb.  Torat Kohanim -- Torah body of laws -- comprised of majority of Leviticus & some laws in Numbers -- one-third of portion of Torah laws -- therefore:  a major source of Jewish Law -- mostly concerned with ritual & Jewish priesthood + scholarship     -- covers, for example:         -- circumcision         -- Passover meal (Exodus) - Pesah         -- Sabbath         -- dietary         -- purification, atonement         -- Yom Kippur         -- + other         -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priestly_Code Pesah (Passover) -- commemoration of liberation of Israelites from slavery in Egypt -- under leadership of Moses (Bk. Exodus) -- spring festival -- during Jerusalem Temple -- offering of first fruits of barley harvested in Land of Israel -- Pesah = feast of unleavened bread -- {like freed slave Israelites fleeing Egypt, no time to leaven dough} -- is one of x3 pilgrimage festivals (to Temple in Jerusalem) -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover Shalosh Regalim  pilgrimage festivals = 'Shalosh Regalim' -- entire population of Kingdom of Judah -- would go to Temple in Jerusalem -- other two Shalosh Regalim:     -- Shavuot (Weeks, Pentecost)     -- Sukkot (Tabernacles, Tents) -- after destruction Second Temple (70 CE), pilgrimage no longer obligatory on Jews -- no longer national scale festivals -- modern-day Israel try to attend prayers at Western Wall (of destroyed Second Temple) -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Pilgrimage_Festivals HaKotel HaMa'aravi -- HaKotel HaMa'aravi - Western Wall -- aka Wailing Wall (but this is considered derogatory by some) -- Arabic:  al-Mabka 'Place of Weeping' -- wall:  small segment of retaining wall -- originally part of expansion of Second Temple -- by Herod the Great (resulting in encasement of hill, Temple Mount) -- Jews call it:  HaKotel -- one of most sacred sites in Judaism outside Temple Mount itself -- wall has 17 courses -- located below street level -- exposed section in Jewish Quarter, plus other concealed structures -- site for Jewish prayer and pilgrimage for centuries -- earliest source mentioning Jewish attachment to the site: 4th century -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall SEND A PRAYER TO:  Ha'Kotel "you can send a prayer directly to a computer that is kept near the Ha’Kotel" prayer is:  printed & stuck into crack in wall god's spirit is always with the Wall source:  chavashira Mitzvah Heb. pl.  Mitzvot Halakhah: Jewish Law A List of the 613 Mitzvot Halakhah from x3 sources: -- Torah -- Rabbis -- Customs Halakhah from any of these =  mitzvah (pl. Mitzvot) -- 'mitzvah' also used informally for 'good deed' -- halakhic mitzvot known as:     1.-- mitzvot d'oraita            -- fm. Aramaic, meaning:  from the Torah     2.-- mitzvot d'rabbanan            -- fm. Aramaic, meaning:  from the rabbis     3. -- minhag (from custom) LINK | here --------/\/\/ *I can't tell the difference between the kohanim & the Levites *think Levites were hereditary / that's distinction (too lazy to check) Not sure how much of this I'll remember, but it was really cool checking this out. The Shema song is really lovely. Not so keen on the 'herem' principle, although it's probably a good one if you're not on the receiving end. The history is really cool.  I like history. I'm not really clear on the laws structure.  There seems to be a lot of laws from all over the place.  There's no way I could live with that many laws.  It seems very complicated.