The Assyrian flag is the flag that universally represents the Assyrian nation currently in diaspora. It was first designed in 1968 and finally adopted in 1971. It consists of a golden circle at the center that represents the sun, which, by its exploding and leaping flames, generates heat and light to sustain the earth and all its living things.
The four pointed star surrounding the sun symbolizes the land, its light blue color symbolizing tranquility.
The wavy stripes extending from the center to the four corners of the flag represent the three major rivers of the Assyrian homeland: the Tigris (Syriac: ܕܩܠܬ; Deqlath), the Euphrates (Syriac: ܦܪܬ; Frot) and the Great Zab (Syriac: ܙܘܐ; Zawa).
The dark blue represents the Euphrates. The Assyrian name for the river, Frot or Prat, means abundance. The red stripes, whose blood red hue stands for courage, glory and pride, represent the Tigris. The white lines in between the two great rivers symbolizes the Great Zab; its white color stands for tranquility and peace.
Some interpret the red, white and blue stripes as the highways that will take the scattered Assyrians back to their ancestral homeland.
Above the blue star in red (although sometimes in gold) is the image of the Assyrian god Assur, who is guarding the flag and the nation it represents.
On top of the flagstaff is the standard of King Sargon I, who established the first Assyrian empire. During ancient times, these insignia stood by the king's side to let everyone know of his whereabouts.
Flag of the Assyrians during World War I
The Assyrian flag between 1913 and 1923 resembled the flag of Switzerland. It consisted of a red background, indicating the blood spilled by the Assyrians during World War I, and a white cross. The top left corner contained a round seal, which was Agha Petros's personal stamp. The seal had his name on it in two languages (Assyrian and Russian). The flag was used by the Assyrian Levies during WWI.
New Assyrian flag?
According to Flags of the World, there has been a sighting of a new Assyrian flag in the Autonomous Kurdish Region of Iraq. The new flag reportedly is yellow with Sargon emblem in gold and red in the center.