Monhronuto Suryoyto
By: Hanna Hajjar
A short history about the term "Monhronuto Suryoyto", which
translates to English as "The Syriac Emblem".
What is the Syriac Emblem, and where did it come from?
The Syriac emblem is nothing other than the Assyrian Winged Bull symbol.
To view the large image of any picture, please click on
its thumbnail.
The picture to the left an original Boy Scout leader Silver medal
that belonged to my father Yaacoub Hajjar, the words "Monhronuto Suryoyto"
are carved on the rectangle below the arrow. There is something unique
about the style of this symbol, since it shows the fifth leg in the front, and
the second wing (which technically should not be shown in a profile
layout). The picture to the right is an outline sketch
of the medal reproduced by me.
Monhronuto Suryoyto Silver Medal:
Dimensions: 29/32" L x 1-19/32" W x 1/32" T
Material: Solid Silver
Suryoyo/Assyrian Boy Scout leader Yaacoub Hajjar. Notice the close-up
of the Monhronuto Suryoyto medal on his left pocket.
The Winged Bull patrol of the Suryoyo/Assyrian Mor Afrem Boy Scouts troop
(Patrol Leader: Yaacoub Hajjar). This picture was taken in the courtyard
of St. Peter & St. Paul Syriac Orthodox Church in Musaytbeh, Beirut,
Lebanon. Notice the close-up of the Winged Bull patrol flag.
Leaders of the Suryoyo/Assyrian boy Scouts in Hay-Assyrian (Assyrian Quarter), in Aleppo, Syria. Notice the close-up of the Monhronuto Suryoyto
medal on the right pocket of the Boy Scout leader Hazqiyel Toros sitting in the
center.
The Suryoyo/Assyrian Boy Scout music band of Hay-Assyrian in Aleppo, Syria.
Note: Hay-Assyrian or the Assyrian Quarter was established by the Urhoyo/Urfalli
Assyrian community that departed from Urhoy/Urfa/Edessa in 1924.
Notice the words "Monhronuto Suryoyto", on the face of the
drum. Since the Winged Bull symbol was banned in Syria, it was replaced
with the statement "Monhronuto Suryoyto" which implied the Assyrian
Winged Bull emblem.
Suryoyo/Assyrian officers of the 8th Battalion of the French Foreign Legion
Assyrian Army that was stationed in Qamishly ,Beth-Nahrin/Al-Jasireh,
Syria. Notice the Winged Bull medal on the right pocket of the officer
sitting to the right.
The same medal that the officers of the 8th Battalion used, was later reproduced
in the 1960s by the ADO (Assyrian Democratic Organization).
8th Battalion Assyrian Army Winged Bull Medal:
Dimensions: 1-1/16" L x 1-15/32" W x 3/32" T
Material: Chrome plated Brass.
This Red and Yellow Assyrian Winged Bull picture used to hang
in the headquarters of the 8th Battalion of the Assyrian Army of the French
Foreign Legion, in Al-Jazireh/Beth Nahrin, Syria. It was donated to Aboona Essa
Tabbakh by the French commanders upon their leaving of Syria in 1948.
When the Assyrian Winged Bull symbol was banned in Syria, it
was turned into an abstract flag consisting of two triangles that formed the
shape of the Winged Bull, where Red represented the body of the Bull, and Yellow
representing the wings of the Eagle.
To further disguise the Winged Bull symbol behind the flag,
the Yellow triangle was rotated 90 degrees (counter-clock-wise) forming a
rectangular (or a square) flag, divided diagonally with Yellow on top, and Red
at the bottom.
Refer to folk songs that say: O'Tad'o Abeerina...
Habobe d'Haqle Shaeethi w'Sameeqi. Also Kha Karma Milya Warde, Warde
Smooqe w'b'Zarde... Folk songs in both Eastern and Western
dialects, sang about Red and Yellow flowers or roses. Imagine that of all
the spectrum of colors of flowers and roses, Assyrians always picked Red and
Yellow only! This Red and Yellow was nothing other than the colors of
their Winged Bull and flag that were banned by certain governments in the Middle
East. To get around this ban, they disguised their love to their national
symbols by singing to flowers and roses of the same color.
Blue was later added representing the Twin Rivers: Tigris and Euphrates,
with a Blue Assyrian Star at the center. Refer to folk songs that say:
Smuqa, w'Zarda, w'Sarbella... (Red, Yellow & Blue).
