Thread: Looking For Lamassu

[URL="http://vimeo.com/58100918"]Gentlemen:

I am a full-blooded Assyrian, as some of you may know. My avatar is the image of the ancient Assyrian god Ashur. Here is a link to a new video I wrote and narrated as a tribute to my heritage. The talented producer, Alfred Rasho, is actually my cousin, and we have worked together on a number of such productions. By the way, Lamassu is the winged bull, another symbol of ancient Assyrian.
Thanks for watching, and stay well.
Obie Yadgar

http://vimeo.com/58127370

Wonderfull Obie, thx for posting.

Thanks for posting this. I have been to very few museums but the exhibit that impressed me the most at the Louvre was the Assyrian one.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Thanks for posting this. I have been to very few museums but the exhibit that impressed me the most at the Louvre was the Assyrian one.

Bob

Yes, the Louvre has a fine Assyrian exhibit. If you ever visit London, the British Museum has an incredible Assyrian exhibit. So does the Pergamon in Berlin. The Baghdad Museum, I understand, had a stunning exhibit of Assyrian artifacts, but the museum was looted after the U.S. invasion. It was heartbreaking for me to see videos and photos of the destruction.

I'll have to put the British Museum and the Pergamon on the list to see when I get back to London and Berlin again. Never enough time it seems.

Had another though too regarding the still felt influences of the Assyrian peoples in that we own them a debt of gratitude for helping in the early development of what we now call the Arab horse. One of the finest breeds of horse I have had the pleasure to work with, a true aristocrat in carriage and temperament.

Bob

Indeed, Bob, the Assyrian contribution to art and culture was incredible. And to warfare. The light infantry was formidable. The cavalry swift. The war chariots were awesome, and feared. Incidentally, I was named after one of the greatest warrior kings of Assyria, King Ashur Uballit I, who ruled around 1300 B.C. Oh, by the way, the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, where we did some of the filming for the documentary, also has an excellent Assyrian exhibit.
Stay well.

Great piece Obie.

I was going to say, before I saw the credits at the end to check out the Oriental Institute. When I went to Grad School at UC I hung out quite a bit over there. They have quite a collection.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Great piece Obie.

I was going to say, before I saw the credits at the end to check out the Oriental Institute. When I went to Grad School at UC I hung out quite a bit over there. They have quite a collection.

Thanks for the kind words, my friend. Yes, the Oriental Institute collection is quite impressive. This piece actually started as a 15-page essay for an Assyrian online magazine. It was a reflection on my heritage seen through the artifacts on display at the museum. Eventually I revised it into a script-essay, and we shot the footage at the museum, as well using still photos from other sources. Someday I would love to do a much longer and comprehensive piece, but there is always the question of funding.
Stay well.

Obie - Thank you for sharing this with us. Such great care put into this!!! Most excellent. (Why I think it surpasses your journey in Kansas!) Seriously, what a gift you have given to us. God has blessed us again.

Thanks for posting, Obie. It was quite stunning.

Learning about different cultures is a richness, imho. I've visited British Museum back years ago and the Assyrian exhibit (as well as everything there) was most interesting. I guess the world is a place where we will never learn enough, there's always something new to learn.