| | The Parthian empire helped revive the [[Achaemenid Empire]] and stem the advances of the [[Roman Empire]]. The Parthian empire occupied territory in present-day Iran, [[Iraq]], [[Turkey]], [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[Georgia]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Syria]]. | | The Parthian empire helped revive the [[Achaemenid Empire]] and stem the advances of the [[Roman Empire]]. The Parthian empire occupied territory in present-day Iran, [[Iraq]], [[Turkey]], [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[Georgia]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Syria]]. |
| − | The term "Parthian" (PAR-thee-un) is from an interesting characteristic of the Parthian fighters, who would fire arrows from horseback while in retreat. Thus Parthian means "relating to, being, or having the effect of a shot fired while in real or feigned retreat" (Merriam-Webster dictionary). A "Parthian shot" is a "parting shot" or criticism voiced by someone leaving. | + | The term "Parthian" (PAR-thee-un) is from an interesting characteristic of the Parthian fighters, who would fire arrows from horseback while in retreat. Thus Parthian means "relating to, being, or having the effect of a shot fired while in real or feigned retreat" (Merriam-Webster dictionary). This is preserved in the term [[Parthian Shot]]. |