Real Assyrian Flag
Historical Evolution of the Assyrian Flag
888 – 855 BC
Shamash God
The Shamash symbol, representing the Mesopotamian sun god Shamash (Utu), appears as early as the Early Dynastic Period (circa 2900–2350 BCE) in Sumerian art and iconography. The symbol is often depicted as a solar disk with four-pointed rays (sometimes enclosed in a circle) or as a winged solar disk in later periods.
In early cylinder seals and carvings, Shamash is frequently shown emerging between two mountains, symbolizing sunrise, with rays emanating from his shoulders — a motif that underscores his role as the god of justice and light.
The iconography evolved over time, especially during the Old Babylonian period (circa 2000–1600 BCE) and later Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian periods, where the symbol became more standardized.
Featured a representation of the god Shamash from the Tablet of Shamash, showing him sitting on his throne dispensing justice while clutching a rod-and-ring symbol.
The tablet was discovered during excavations by Hormuzd Rassam between 1878 and 1883.
.png)
865-860 BC
Assur God
Gypsum wall panel relief showing Ashurnasirpal II in his chariot attacking the archers of the enemy. Above his horses is the emblem of the god Assur also shooting arrows (Copyright of The Trustees of the British Museum).
Assur is first positively attested to in the Ur III Period (2047-1750 BC) of Mesopotamian history. He is identified as the patron god of the city of Ashur c. 1900 BC at its founding and also gives his name to the Assyrians.
.jpg)
911–609 BC
Assyrian Imperial Standard
The Assyrian imperial standard was a sacred military and political emblem, often featuring a winged sun disk, divine symbols, or animal figures atop a staff. It symbolized the power of the Assyrian king, divine protection from Assur (Ashur), and imperial dominance.
Used in battle and ceremonies, it served as a rallying point for troops and a representation of divine authority. Depictions of the standard appear in reliefs from Nineveh and Balawat, showing its significance in Assyrian warfare and state rituals.
While no complete standards have survived, artistic depictions provide insight into their design and symbolism.
.png)
Pre-WWI Flag
Tur Abdin Design
Prior to World War I, Western Assyrians from the Tur Abdin region of Turkey designed an Assyrian flag consisting of a horizontal tricolor with the colors purple, white, and red, with three white stars at the upper hoist. The purple, white, and red bars represented the loyalty, purity, and determination of the Assyrian people, and the three white stars represented the three names or components of the Assyrian nation, Assyrians, Syriacs, and Chaldeans.
.png)
This flag was used during delegation meetings with Assyrian politicians and Western powers post World War I. It was also in use by the Assyrian National Federation, later renamed the Assyrian American Federation and the Assyrian American National Federation, from its founding in 1933 until 1975 when they adopted the current Assyrian flag.
1914–1919
World War I Agha Petros Assyrian Flag
.png)
During the First World War, the Assyrian volunteers commanded by Agha Petros used a red flag with a white cross. Agha Petros' personal standard was the flag of the Volunteers but made of silk, with a golden fringe added, and the words "Trust God and follow the Cross" written in Assyrian above the cross. “For the flag, Agha Petrus first used a cross.
Then he took as a basis the plumage of an eagle, that is, the ancient symbol of the god Ashur, and in the middle of the top he drew a circle and placed in it the ancient Christian symbol of the Church of the East.” - Vasili Shoumanov
.png)
Circa 1918
Assyrian commander
Malik Kambar’s flag
A charismatic Assyrian leader, Malik Kambar Warda of Jilu, the son-in-law of Nimrod, appeared in 1918 with a new scheme as an alternative to the British plan for the Assyrians.
Malik Kambar created his own version of a flag, with a multi-cone star in the center and three stripes at the top, following the example of the French flag.
in search
A Pre-WWI Flag
with a Seal
A modern recreation of one of the pre-WWI Assyrian flags by Jorge Candeias, 15 February 2005.
1919-1920
Paris Peace Conference
Assyrian Delegates to the Peace Conference from the U.S.A.
.png)
Circa 1920
.png)
Circa 1920
Assyrian Apostolic Church
Grand opening of St. Mary's Assyrian Apostolic Church in Worcester, MA, USA.
.png)
1922
Assyrians in Worcester
Assyrians in Worcester, Massachusetts celebrating July 4, year 1922 and holding the old Assyrian flag. Captain Dr. Abraham K. Yousef is wearing military attire and is standing with other Assyrian migrants from Mardin, Harput and Diyarbakir.
in search
Vladimir Beit David and Nimrod Assyrian Soccer Club - Tehran
His visit to a museum in France inspired him to connect with his Assyrian roots and ancient symbols.
1958
The Assyrian Athletic Association of Nimrod in Tehran was established on July 8th, 1958 under the management of Mr. Vladimir Beit David along with a small number of Assyrian youth who showed interest and ability in athletics.
1960
The symbol of Shamash featured on the left is used as a logo by the The Assyrian Athletic Association of Nimrod in Tehran.
1965
Assyrian New Year Stamps
Postage stamps celebrating the Assyrian New Year commissioned in Iran, designed by Vladimir Beit David.
.png)
.png)
1965
Tpaqta B’yimma/Meeting the Mother
A book featuring artwork by Mr. Vladimir Beit David, created in 1965 showing the symbol of Shamash connected to a mother figure who is in deep thought.
“Tpaqta B’yimma/Meeting the Mother” by Yoshiya Peera Amirkhas
1968
Literary Association of Assyrian Youth of Tehran
.png)
.png)
Circa 1960
The Assyrian Family Aid Association of Tehran was a group of women who organized to help those in need. They were established in 1926 in Tehran, Iran. They likely started to use the Shamash symbol in the 1960s.
The Assyrian Family Aid Association of Tehran
1968
1st Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA)
Congress in Pau, France
On April 13th, 1968, the Assyrian Universal Alliance was created as a worldwide organisation seeking to spread, uphold and enhance the Assyrian name in the world, to secure the human rights of the Assyrian people in their homeland and to attain an autonomous state in the Assyrian ancestral homeland.
%20Congress%20in%20Pau%2C%20France%20(1).png)
Layouts and suggestions were to be collected from across the world in order to be presented to the AUA Congress for approval.
This worldwide effort netted a large number of designs which were duly received and noted. Following meticulous consideration, a decision was reached in favor of one particular design which best captured the Assyrian essence from the past and the present.
%20Congress%20in%20Pau%2C%20France.png)
In the aftermath of the inception of the Assyrian Universal Alliance in 1968, a serious effort was undertaken by this organization to address the need for the Assyrian nation to have its own official national flag.
To realize this dream it was decided to appeal to various Assyrian artists and knowledgeable people, for the purpose of soliciting ideas and layouts on this important national task.
%20Congress%20in%20Pau%2C%20France%20(2).png)
1970
Literary Association of Assyrian Youth
of Tehran Calendar and 3rd AUA Congress
Featuring a cover with the Shamash symbol
Third Congress of AUA in Koln, Germany. July 24-27, 1970. AUA logo featuring the Shamash symbol.
Nov/Dec 1970
Jan/Feb 1971
It appears that beginning in the May/June, 1967 issue of the Assyrian Star, an ad for the Assyrian American Educational Association begins showing up on the back cover of the magazine. However, starting with the November/December, 1970 issue, this ad begins to depict an Assyrian flag next to it.
This particular Assyrian flag was created by Assyrians in the early twentieth century, and was eventually adopted by the newly-formed Assyrian American National Federation (Assyrian National Federation at the time) in the 1930s.
The ad on the back of the Assyrian Star’s November/December, 1970 issue (depicted below) explains what the flag’s colors meant. The three stars on the flag represented the Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and the Syriac Orthodox Church.
The January/February, 1971 issue’s ad is in color, giving you a better idea of what the flag looked like.
_.png)
The Assyrian Star
(magazine)
.png)
1971
4th AUA Congress
Former Iranian Prime Minister, Amir Abbass Hoveyda addressing the Opening of the 4th AUA Congress held in Tehran between 23-27 October 1971.
.png)
Apr 1972
AUA Magazine - Asia Chapter
A cover designed by Beit David for the AUA Magazine - Asia Chapter, April 1972.
Jan/Feb 1972
Starting in the January/February, 1972 issue of the Assyrian Star, the star of Shamash begins to consistently appear on the magazine’s front cover. Since the magazine is called the Assyrian Star, this makes sense. The star matches the one that eventually shows up on the current Assyrian flag.
May/Jun 1973
Beginning in May/June, 1973, the Assyrian American Educational Association’s ads on the back cover of the Assyrian Star start to offer people the option of purchasing an Assyrian flag. Since these ads predate the current Assyrian flag, they were most likely selling flags with the older design.
.png)
1973
6th AUA Congress
In the year 1973, this design was approved by the 6th congress of the AUA which convened in the United States in the city of Yonkers, New York. This flag was designed by a well-known Assyrian artist, Mr. George Bit Atanus of Tehran, Iran.
1960s-1970s
This Flagpole Top was recreated by the Assyrian flag designer, George Bet Atanous. He made it in the 60s-70s in Tehran. It was presented to the Asian chapter secretary of AUA - Suzanne Shamoun (1926- 2021), George Bit Atanus’s sister-in-law, which she kept for many years at her home in Chicago.
After her passing and by the will of George's family, this historical relic was given to Vasili Shoumanov, and in turn he donated it to the Assyrian Cultural Foundation’s Ashurbanipal Library. The topper was made of bronze and George Bet Atanous had created two.
Tehran, Iran 1971
Flag Topper “Ata Sargonaita,
Flag of Sargon”
Sep 1975
The Assyrian Star
On page 2 of the September, 1975 issue of the Assyrian Star.
Sep 1976
The Assyrian Star
.png)
The front cover of the January, 1976 issue of the Assyrian Star officially announces the new Assyrian flag’s design stating, “The Assyrian Universal Alliance Flag which was adopted by the Assyrian American National Federation during San Francisco Convention of September 1975.” Note the red and the blue colors are reversed in this print, and the Assur is not in full color. The color reversal could have been an error.
May/Jun 1977
The Assyrian Star
The Shamash symbol is used on the Assyrian Star Magazine Cover May/June 1977 publication.
.png)
Circa 1970s
AUA Congress USA
Yonathan Betkolia, center in the back, William Younan to his left, Suzanne Shamoun in the front.
The Assyrian flag seen in a photo featuring Suzanne Shamoun (1926- 2021), George Bit Atanus’s sister-in-law, and AUA Secretary General William Younan, AUA Congress in USA.
1978
Atour Newspaper, Tehran, Iran
The Shamash symbol can be seen on the Atour Newspaper, a periodical founded, published, and edited by Dr. Wilson Bet-Mansour who was also a Member of Parliament of Iran 1967-1975, representing Assyrians, and a Founder and First Secretary-General of the AUA.
These periodicals were presented by Dr. Eunice Bet-Mansour to the Harvard Library Modern Assyrian Archival collection.
Sep/Oct 1981
The Assyrian Star
The front cover of the September/October, 1981 issue of the Assyrian Star depicts the 1981 Miss Assyrian winner holding a modern Assyrian flag. Page 10 of that issue also depicts other people holding a modern Assyrian flag.
.png)
Mar/Apr 1982
The Assyrian Star
These photos are from the March/April 1982 issue of The Assyrian Star. The elements of the modern Assyrian flag are noticeable.
.png)
Aug 1982
14th AUA Congress
A photo from the 14th AUA Congress in Los Angeles, CA, USA from August 28-31, 1982 featuring the Assyrian flag.
Jan/Feb 1983
The Assyrian Star
The Assyrian Star stops placing the Assyrian American Educational Association’s ad (the one selling the old Assyrian flags) on the back of its cover. This is a photo of what shows up on the back of the January/February, 1983 issue instead.
.png)
Mar/Apr 1983
The Assyrian Star
The back cover of the March/April 1983 issue of The Assyrian Star.
.png)
1992
The Assyrian Star
The Assyrian Star featuring Chicago Assyrians celebrating the dedication of King Sargon Boulevard. Note the Assyrian flags.
.png)
1994
The Assyrian Star
Front page of The Assyrian star featuring an image of an Assyrian float passing through Michigan Avenue in the Parade of Nations in Chicago in 1994. Note the Assyrian flag held at the front of the float.
.png)
Oct 1979
Recognition of the Artist
AUA’s recognition of George Bit Atanus’s contributions.
2000s
Assyrian Universal Alliance
The Assyrian Universal Alliance made a standard design available for modern use.
