Real Assyrian Flag
1970
Assyrian Youth Center of Tehran
Dr. Wilson Bet-Mansour at the podium speaking, a founder of the AUA, served both as the first Secretary General of the organization and as an Assyrian Member of Parliament in Iran. Standing next to him is George Bet-Atanous, the artist and designer of the Assyrian flag, along with Dr. Nora Bet-Alkhas. The flag was mounted at the Assyrian Youth Center of Tehran in 1970 years before its official ratification by the AUA in 1973. This photo was published in Nineveh magazine's 2022 obituary of Dr. Nora Bet-Alkhas.
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.
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The Assyrian Star
(magazine)
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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.
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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.
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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”
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.
Sep 1975
The Assyrian Star
On page 2 of the September, 1975 issue of the Assyrian Star.
Sep 1976
The Assyrian Star
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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.
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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.
Oct 1979
Recognition of the Artist
AUA’s recognition of George Bit Atanus’s contributions.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Mar/Apr 1983
The Assyrian Star
The back cover of the March/April 1983 issue of The Assyrian Star.
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1992
The Assyrian Star
The Assyrian Star featuring Chicago Assyrians celebrating the dedication of King Sargon Boulevard. Note the Assyrian flags.
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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.
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2000s
Assyrian Universal Alliance
The Assyrian Universal Alliance made a standard design available for modern use.
