Guide
Parthian and Sasanian Iran in History and Memory
1st–6th Centuries
By Carol Bakhos
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Jewish Colonies in Babylonia and Its Environs
And not only are the mainlands full of Jewish colonies but also the most highly esteemed of the islands Euboea, Cyprus, Crete. I say nothing of the countries beyond the Euphrates, for except for a…
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Tensions in Parthian Babylonia and the Rise and Fall of Asineus and Anileus
A terrible, most severe disaster now took place among the Jews in Mesopotamia, especially those…
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Queen Helena of Adiabene
Around this time [during the reign of Herod], Helena, queen of Adiabene, and her son Izates…
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Mourning the Last Parthian King
Antoninus attended to Rabbi. Ardavan attended to Rav. When Antoninus died, Rabbi said, “The bond has been snapped.” When Ardavan died, Rav said, “The bond has been snapped.”
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Samuel and King Shapur
King Shapur said to Samuel, “You say that the Messiah arrives on a donkey. I will send him one of my horses!” [Samuel] responded, “Do you have a donkey that is a…
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Rava and the Queen Mother
Ifra Hormiz, the mother of King Shapur, sent blood before Rava. Rav Ovadiah was sitting in front of him. [Rava] smelled it. He said to her, “This is blood of desire.” She said to her son, “See how…