PARTHIAN EMPIRE AT ITS HEIGHT
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Parthian Empire
a) Also known as the Arsacid empire, Parthia became a world power in 247 B.C. Arsaces I, the Parni tribe's leader, began Parthia's rise to dominance by conquering the northeast region of Iran. At the time of its conquest the province was in rebellion against the Seleucids. The Parthian empire reached the height of its power under Mithridates II (123–88 B.C.) when it controlled 1.1 million square miles (2.84 million square kilo meters) of territory. It is considered the 10th largest and most powerful ancient world power.
b) There is, surprisingly, a Semitic-Israel connection to David's royal household that exists in the royal family of Parthia. The Arsacids, who ruled Parthia, were Jewish descendants of Phares and King David. Israelite tribe and clan names are found throughout the area they controlled. The capital city of the Parthian empire was named after Abraham's only son through Sarah - Isaac.
2. Parthia versus Rome
a) Rome and Parthia battled each other for dominance and supremacy in a series of conflicts. These conflicts ran from 66 B.C. to 217 A.D - a span of 281 years! For a period of time Parthia's power so rivalled that of Rome's that the Romans actually FEARED it!
b) Just a few short decades prior to Jesus' birth, the Parthian empire so roundly defeated Rome's army that they experienced one of the worst defeats ever. At Carrhae FIFTY PERCENT of the Roman army's 40,000 troops died, twenty five percent of the soldiers ran from the battlefield, and 10,000 troops became captives of Parthia! Crassus, who helped govern the empire with Caesar and Pompey, was also killed in battle. Roman territory was also attacked by the Parthians in 40 B.C. Their military tactics proved so successful that almost all the Mediterranean area called the Levant (which comprises areas such as Syria, Jordan, Palestine and other land), will the exception of Tyre, fell into their control.
c) Josephus, the well-known ancient Jewish historian, states that Parthia was so powerful that they forced Herod the Great, just before the Romans made him king of Palestine, to run so as not to be killed!
i) "Now Antigonus had promised to give the Parthians a thousand talents (note: which today would be roughly 75,000 U.S. pounds of gold or silver), and five hundred women, upon condition they would take the government away from Hyrcanus (note: Hyrcanus was a relative of Herod's and Rome's governor over the Jewish people in Judea), and bestow it upon him, and withal KILL HEROD.
ii) " . . . Herod (the Great) was under great disturbance of mind, and rather inclining to believe the reports he heard about his brother and the Parthians . . .determined, that when the evening came on, he would make use of it for his flight" (History of the Jews)
d) The Parthian empire finally fell in 224 A.D. when King Ardashir I, ruler of the Sassanid dynasty, revolted and killed Parthia's last ruler.
The End ...
1. The Parthian Empirea) Also known as the Arsacid empire, Parthia became a world power in 247 B.C. Arsaces I, the Parni tribe's leader, began Parthia's rise to dominance by conquering the northeast region of Iran. At the time of its conquest the province was in rebellion against the Seleucids. The Parthian empire reached the height of its power under Mithridates II (123–88 B.C.) when it controlled 1.1 million square miles (2.84 million square kilo meters) of territory. It is considered the 10th largest and most powerful ancient world power.
b) There is, surprisingly, a Semitic-Israel connection to David's royal household that exists in the royal family of Parthia. The Arsacids, who ruled Parthia, were Jewish descendants of Phares and King David. Israelite tribe and clan names are found throughout the area they controlled. The capital city of the Parthian empire was named after Abraham's only son through Sarah - Isaac.
2. Parthia versus Rome
a) Rome and Parthia battled each other for dominance and supremacy in a series of conflicts. These conflicts ran from 66 B.C. to 217 A.D - a span of 281 years! For a period of time Parthia's power so rivalled that of Rome's that the Romans actually FEARED it!
b) Just a few short decades prior to Jesus' birth, the Parthian empire so roundly defeated Rome's army that they experienced one of the worst defeats ever. At Carrhae FIFTY PERCENT of the Roman army's 40,000 troops died, twenty five percent of the soldiers ran from the battlefield, and 10,000 troops became captives of Parthia! Crassus, who helped govern the empire with Caesar and Pompey, was also killed in battle. Roman territory was also attacked by the Parthians in 40 B.C. Their military tactics proved so successful that almost all the Mediterranean area called the Levant (which comprises areas such as Syria, Jordan, Palestine and other land), will the exception of Tyre, fell into their control.
c) Josephus, the well-known ancient Jewish historian, states that Parthia was so powerful that they forced Herod the Great, just before the Romans made him king of Palestine, to run so as not to be killed!
i) "Now Antigonus had promised to give the Parthians a thousand talents (note: which today would be roughly 75,000 U.S. pounds of gold or silver), and five hundred women, upon condition they would take the government away from Hyrcanus (note: Hyrcanus was a relative of Herod's and Rome's governor over the Jewish people in Judea), and bestow it upon him, and withal KILL HEROD.
ii) " . . . Herod (the Great) was under great disturbance of mind, and rather inclining to believe the reports he heard about his brother and the Parthians . . .determined, that when the evening came on, he would make use of it for his flight" (History of the Jews)
d) The Parthian empire finally fell in 224 A.D. when King Ardashir I, ruler of the Sassanid dynasty, revolted and killed Parthia's last ruler.
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