Once Assyria stretched from Cyprus to Iran and from the Caucasus to Egypt. Successive invasions and massacres have diminished both the land area of Assyria and the Assyrian population, but still there has been a continuous Assyrian presence in Iraq and Syria for over 2000 years.

Before adopting Christianity, the ancient Assyrians worshipped a number of gods, including my namesake (Esther, as well as being the name of a Jewish heroine, is derived from Ishtar/Ashtoreth/Astarte, the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, war and the morning star).