| | '''Parthia''' ('''اشکانیان''', '''"Ashkâniân"''') (248BC-224AD) was an ancient civilization that ruled in the northeast of [[Persia]] (modern-day [[Iran]]).The Parthians defeated the successors to [[Alexander the Great]], the Seleucids, and conquered most of the Middle East. It also controlled part of the [[Silk Road]]. | | '''Parthia''' ('''اشکانیان''', '''"Ashkâniân"''') (248BC-224AD) was an ancient civilization that ruled in the northeast of [[Persia]] (modern-day [[Iran]]).The Parthians defeated the successors to [[Alexander the Great]], the Seleucids, and conquered most of the Middle East. It also controlled part of the [[Silk Road]]. |
| − | 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, Azerbaidzhan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Palestine, Israel, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. | + | 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). A "Parthian shot" is a "parting shot" or criticism voiced by someone leaving. |