Iraqi Archaeologists Excavate New Sites And Find ‘Rare’ Parthian Artefacts

CAIS News ^

[blam]

Iraqi Archaeologists Excavate New Sites and Find ‘Rare’ Parthian Artefacts

25 January 2008

LONDON, (CAIS) -- Iraqi archaeologists have resumed excavations in southern Iraq uncovering three important ancient sites and collecting magnificent items.

The museum’s information officer, Abdulzahara al-Talaqani, said said Iraqi diggers have come across “a very important” Parthian site which has so far yielded “200 rare pieces”.

The head of the excavation team of the Parthian site, Mohammed Abbas, said: “Most of the finds are unique. We have a silver statue of a woman, another silver piece representing a cobra, household utensils, legendary animals, incised pots and various other magnificent items.”

A post-Sasanian site has also yielded 119 pieces. Saleh Yousef who led the excavation there said the artifacts represented inscribed pots, glassware and beautiful beakers.

The territories that today is known as Iraq had became part of Persian Achaemenid Empire during the reign of Cyrus the Great after conquering Babylon in 539BCE. The territory almost uninterruptedly remained Iranian until 7th century CE, apart from temporarily Seleucid occupation which later was liberated by Parthian dynasty of Iran. Iraq finally was occupied by Muslim-Arab invaders in 7th century, and as the result of mass migration from Arabian peninsula to the region, it has been predominantly occupied by Arabs - the only Iranian stock that still live in the region are Kurds which have occupied the northern territories.

The city of Ctesiphon, located on the east bank of the Tigris and approximately 35 kms south of modern Baghdad, was served as the Imperial capital of two major Iranian dynasties, the Parthians (248 BCE – 224 CE) and Sasanians (224-651 CE). During the reign the Sasanian King of Kings Khosrow I (anūšak.rūwān, the immortal soul - r. 531-579 CE) the former Persian land was part of Khvārvarān, which was divided into four quarters and subdivided to provinces of Mishān, Asuristān, Ādiābene and Lower Media.

The modern term Iraq is an Arabic form derivative form of Persian Ērāk (lower Iran), and is widely used in the medieval Arabic sources for the area in the centre and south of the modern republic as a geographic rather than a political term, implying no precise boundaries.

[blam]

GGG Ping.

[curmudgeonII]

The Parthians had glassware?

[SunkenCiv]

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[Verginius Rufus]

Apparently the glassware mentioned came from a post-Sassanian site (the Sassanian period ended only with the Arab conquests in the 7th century A.D.), but the Romans had glassware so it’s possible that the Parthians did too.

[Fred Nerks]

"Never forget that as a king you are the protector of your religion and your country....You should be an example of piety and virtue, but without pride or ostentation. ...Remember my son, that the fate of the nation depends on the conduct of the individual who sits on the throne....Learn to meet the frowns of destiny with courage and fortitude, and to receive her smiles with moderation and wisdom.....May your administration be such as to bring the blessing of those whom God has confided to our parental care."

Ardashir's advice to son, Shapour

---

The Sasanian Empire is the name used for the fourth Iranian dynasty and the second Persian Empire (224 - 651 CE). The Sasanian dynasty was founded by Ardashir I after defeating the last Arsacid king of kings, Artabanus IV and ended when the last Sasanian the King of Kings (Shahanshah), Yazdegerd III (632–651), lost a 14-year struggle to drive out the Arab invaders from his Empire.

The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies

[Fred Nerks]

Modern Firuzabad, known as Gor and Ardashir-Khorra (“Glory of Ardashir”) in Sasaian times, is situated 1109 km south of Shiraz, at the geographical coordinates 28 degrees 50’ N, 52 degrees E, at an altitude of ca. 1,300 m. Abundantly watered by the Firuzabad river and by seasonal springs, the town is surrounded by high wooded mountains used for pasture and reached by defensible access roads. Believed to have been founded by Ardashir I (AD 224-241), Gor was Ardashir’s stronghold in his revolt against the last Parthian king. The Sasanian town was a round city encircled by double walls separated by a 35 m wide ditch pierced by four axial city gates. The plan of the town was a perfect circle, 1,950 m in diameter, divided precisely into twenty sectors with radial concentric streets.

[robomatik]

i have arte-facts too. just not artifacts. :) (typo joke blam)

[SunkenCiv]

Nice pic.

[wildbill]

I wonder if the glassware includes a Parthian Shot glass.

I’ve always wanted to see one.

[SunkenCiv]

[singing] Parthian me boys, is that the Chattanooga station?

[wildbill]

You’d better choo-choo that over
on track 29.