Assyroid
- common
- occasional
- rare
Description
Semitic type that unites Armenoid with Arabid features. Historically important in the ancient Hittite Kingdom and the Assyrian civilisation. Diluted today, purest in Isfahan Jews, but also Ashkenazi Jews and some Syrians and Iranians. Medieval migrations brought it to India, Africa, and Europe, where it was traditionally found in Poland, Belarus, and the Rhine valley. In India sometimes in Parsi and Toda. More recently, it has spread to America and other world regions.
Physical traits
Light brown, sometimes fair skin, straight or wavy, usually dark brown, sometimes blonde curly-wavy hair. Medium height, meso- macroskelic, endomorph. Brachycephalic, chamae- orthocranic, rather small-headed. Prominent, big and fleshy nose. The lower lip is full. Beard and body hair usually heavy.
Literature
Deniker (1900) named and defined the type. Other authors (Fishberg, 1911; Biasutti, 1967) defined it as a separate "Hebraic" type. Eickstedt (1952) described it as Assurid, an Orientalo-Armenid blend. Lundman (1967) used the term Syrid.
