(AINA) -- The Assyrian International News Agency recently learned that Dr. Norman Solkhah, the founder and curator of the Mesopotamia Museum in Chicago, received a letter from Dr. Simo Parpola, a renowned Assyriologist at the University of Helsinki, informing him of their new project. Dr. Parpola, the head of the prestigious State Archives of Assyria Project, stated in his letter that they are organizing a long-term research project entitled "The Intellectual Heritage of Assyria in Classical Antiquity". According to Dr. Parpola, "a central goal of this project is to investigate the continuity of Assyrian ideological doctrines, religious concepts, etc., in later Near Eastern empires including Rome and Byzantium until the 7th century A.D.". In addition Dr. Parpola emphasized that, "an important side goal is to study the survival of Assyrian national identity, culture, and political and religious attitudes and infrastructures in post-empire times, especially in Seleucid and Roman Syria/Assyria". The plan is that the project will continue for several years, in the course of which an extensive public-domain database on the subject will be built up. Several interdisciplinary symposia devoted to the subject are planned. Dr. Parpola declared that, "we are confident that the project will open many new perspectives, encourage collaboration between Assyriologists, Classicists and historians of religion, and contribute significantly to the history and ethnic identity of the present-day Assyrians".

The opening symposium will be arranged on October 8-1l (Thursday through Sunday) this year in Tvarminne, Finland, and will be largely devoted to planning the database and future collaboration. Two days are reserved for papers addressing the general issue of Assyrian/Near Eastern cultural continuity. In addition to Assyriologists, participants include well known Classicists and Iranists, like Walter Burkert, Martin West, Kurt Raaflaub, Robert Rollinger, and Antonio Panaino, who have made significant contributions to the subject in their past work.

Dr. Parpola invited Dr. Solkhah to take part in this project and to attend the opening symposium, "both as an observer and as an active participant in the discussions". Dr. Parpola explained that it is important that, "the project not become a club of specialists only but will also include representatives of modern Assyrians who understand its importance and are ready to work for its realization by publicizing it and rallying support for it among their compatriots".

Dr. Parpola added that, "the symposium venue, Tvarminne Zoological Station of the University of Helsinki, situated in a scenic location near the southernmost city of Finland, Hanko, was chosen to guarantee undisturbed peace of work for several days in an informal atmosphere. The site offers excellent opportunities for outing and relaxation, and the colours of nature will be magnificent in mid-October".

Dr. Solkhah stressed that, "the enormous significance of the continued success of this project cannot be over emphasized. It is in the benefit of our nation to consistently promote, publicize, assist and participate in this landmark project." He stated that, "the work of these great scholars will go a long way in disproving those who reject the link between us and our glorious ancient Assyrian ancestors".