CONNECTIONS TO ANCIENT HISTORY: Why dead languages are important to modern Iraqis

By Mahdi Ghareeb in Baghdad

In a small classroom, in the middle of Baghdad, on a quiet corner of Mutanabbi Street, the past meets the present. Here Fadil Hussein, a retired professor and calligraphy master, teaches both ancient Akkadian, an extinct language that was spoken in ancient Mesopotamia, and Arabic calligraphy. And he doesn’t charge a single dinar. This is a labor of love; the topics have been his passion for decades.

Hussein comes to the classroom every Friday, wearing his leather satchel in one hand and a stack of notebooks in the other.

“I’m here to teach the language of our ancestors,” he says, sitting at a wooden table. “The language that bore our first written words and carried our voices across the world. Although age and illness have taken their toll, I will continue to share what I know with those who love the beauty of language and the art of calligraphy.”

The students are a diverse group. Some are young, others older. Some come with no more than a curiosity about ancient script, others are experienced artists, hoping to deepen their understanding of calligraphy.

“I ask for nothing in return except that you come and learn,” Hussein tells them. “As for the tools, I provide them all for free.”

Hussein taught Arabic calligraphy at Iraqi universities for over 30 years. After retiring from his government teaching job in 2016, he decided to continue teaching.

The Iraqi education system today focuses on Arabic and English, rather than extinct languages ​​like Akkadian. “There are no schools in Baghdad dedicated to teaching these subjects, so I felt it was important to step in and offer this knowledge for free,” Hussein explains.

Hussein uses traditional methods, utilizing a quill pen and black ink. And his lessons are as much about history as they are about technique. He begins with the basics of the Arabic alphabet and progresses to more complex forms of calligraphy, such as Quranic verses or Arabic poetry.

Hussein has already taught around 5,000 students calligraphy and he estimates around 2,000 have learned to read Akkadian.

“Many of these students have gone on to become professionals,” he says proudly, surveying the table covered with ink and paper. “Some have even started their own businesses, creating beautiful calligraphy and artworks.”

He worries about this craft being lost. Times are changing and thanks to technology, calligraphy is no longer seen as important as it once was.

“The profession has been weakened,” Hussein explains. “What was once a thriving craft in Baghdad has now been replaced by printing shops and digital advertisements. The streets of Mutanabbi, once full of calligraphers, are now lined with offices offering quick prints and mass-produced banners.”

Hussein is thankful there are still people around like Omar Muhammad, a young man in his twenties who works in a print shop. His job involves creating ads and he uses software to do this. But Muhammad still wanted to learn how to do calligraphy himself.

“What I do in my job is a product of technology,” Muhammad admits. “But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to learn the true art of calligraphy.”

“I’ve had students as young as 15 and as old as 70,” Hussein counts. “There’s no age limit here because everyone can benefit from understanding our heritage.”

Jasem Salman, 54, is another student. He joined the class two months ago, motivated by his interest in Iraq’s ancient history. “Learning the Akkadian language has given me the ability to read the ancient texts carved into clay tablets,” he exclaims. “It’s a connection to the past that I never thought I’d have.”

At the end of the lesson, the retired professor packs up his materials and tidies the classroom. He’s satisfied with today’s class.

“I’ve done my part,” he says. “I’ve taught the language of our ancestors and the script that connects us to our rich, ancient history. If God grants me health, I’ll be here next week to continue.”