Alqosh
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Alqosh ܐܲܠܩܘ̣ܫ ألقوش |
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 Alqosh
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| Coordinates: 36°43′55.6″N 43°5′42.6″E / 36.732111°N 43.095167°ECoordinates: 36°43′55.6″N 43°5′42.6″E / 36.732111°N 43.095167°E | |
| Country |
 Iraq
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| Governorate | Ninawa |
| Founded | 1500 BC |
| Population | |
| • Total | 11,000-15,000 |
| Time zone | GMT +3 |
| • Summer (DST) | GMT +4 (UTC) |
Alqōsh (Syriac: ܐܲܠܩܘ̣ܫ, Judeo-Aramaic: אלקוש, Arabic: ألقوش), alternatively spelled Kar Aqosh, Al-qosh or Alqush, is an Assyrian Christian town in northern Iraq. It is located 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Mosul.
Alqosh has adorned the Bayhidhra mountains for more than 25 centuries. The town glowingly reigns over Nineveh's northern plateau known for its fertile soil and extends southward across the other Chaldean towns, such as, Bartella, Tesqopa (Tel Skuf), Baqofah, Sharafiya, Batnaya, and Tel Keppe. The town is divided into four quarters: Sainna quarter to the west, Qasha quarter to the east, O’do quarter to the north, and Khatetha quarter to the south.
Alqosh traces its history back into the ancient Assyrian Empire and perhaps even further. The earliest mentioning of Alqosh appears in Sennacherib's era 750 BC as evidenced by the mural inside Sennacherib's palace that was discovered in Tel Kuyunjik/Qüyüjik (Sheep Hill in Turkoman) in Mosul. Behind this mural, the phrase "This rock was brought from Alqosh’s Mountain" is carved.
Alqosh is primarily inhabited by Assyrian followers of the Chaldean Catholic Church, and one of the few places where Aramaic is still spoken.
Conflicting opinions appear pertaining to the name Alqosh. Some believe it derives from the Aramaic language and the word Alqoshtti, which means "My god is my arrow". Others interpret it as Alqoshtta, the god of justice. Yet some others believe it comes from Turkish Alkuş ; the red bird. Some contend it belongs to the name AalQoun, father of Nahum the Alqoshian, one of the Old Testament prophets whose tomb still rests in Alqosh today.
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