Parthia

views updated May 21 2018

Parthia Region in ancient Persia, corresponding approximately to the modern Iranian province of Khurasan, with part of s Turkmenistan. It was the seat of the Parthian Empire, founded after a successful revolt against the Seleucids (238 bc). Under the Arsacid dynasty, the Parthian Empire extended, at its peak, from Armenia to Afghanistan. In ad 224, the Parthians were defeated by the rising power of the Sassanids and the Empire rapidly crumbled.

Parthia

views updated May 14 2018

Parthia an ancient kingdom which lay SE of the Caspian Sea in present-day Iran. From c.250 bc to c.230 ad the Parthians ruled an empire stretching from the Euphrates to the Indus. Established by the Parthians' rebellion against the Seleucids, the empire reached the peak of its power around the 2nd century bc. It was eventually eclipsed by the Sassanians. The Parthians were skilled horsemen, with a culture that contained a mixture of Greek and Persian elements.
Parthian shot a parting shot, so named because of the trick used by Parthians of shooting arrows backwards while in real or pretended flight.