Nabu Circle: Dr Efrem Yildiz, Ph.D
Leading our inaugural lecture is the distinguished Dr. Efrem Yildiz, Ph.D., a renowned professor at the University of Salmanca. He shares his insights on the topic of "How Should Modern Assyrian Be Taught?" – a vital conversation for preserving and nurturing our precious Assyrian language.
In ancient Assyria, Nabu was known as the ‘Lord of Wisdom,’ and was the patron god of scribes and scholars. Inspired by Nabu’s attributes, the ancient Assyrians created a civilization based principally on wisdom and learning. Assyrian kings, most notably Ashurbanipal, established libraries and archive centers and analyzed their world and the heavens above them with the science of the day. They established a legacy that rejoiced in erudition and passed it on to their descendants. In this spirit, Assyrians established learning centers, such as very first university, the School of Nisibis, and helped usher in a golden age for Islamic civilization. Assyrian churches expanded their realm into Asia to form the largest missionary enterprise the world had known. The glories of their ancestors were long behind them when their prominence diminished as they experienced the genocide of the First World War. Since that time, the Assyrians have struggled physically, intellectually, and spiritually to better their present as they look back over their long history. Always, however, central to Assyrian culture has been a longing for knowledge and reverence for the intellect. The legacy of Nabu still inspires modern Assyrians.
The Ashurbanipal Library’s Nabu Series Lectures is an attempt to take in, one lecture and seminar at a time, the impressive breadth and depth of Assyrian history. Intellectual borders set by academic institutions which divide Assyrian history into segments have been removed and scholars from various periods and with varying disciplines are invited to share their knowledge and reflections with us. We aim, as did Ashurbanipal, to gather knowledge from all quarters to enrich ourselves and the world around us.
Each month we will feature one renowned scholar to lecture on ancient, classical, and modern Assyrian history, literature, language, and culture. We would be honored if you could participate in it.