#parthia

[along-the-silkroad]

The Nisa helmeted warrior, a Hellenistic figure or deity, from the Parthian royal residence and necropolis of Nisa, 2nd century BCE.

The rise of the king Mithradates I around 171 BCE ushered in a new phase in the history of the Parthian realm, commonly designated by historians as its “phil-Hellenistic” era, lasting until 12 CE. This epoch saw a pronounced infusion of Hellenistic culture—evident above all in the adoption of Greek and in artistic production—though indigenous traditions continued to assert themselves and were never entirely relinquished. Pieces such as the "Nisa helmeted warrior" excellently reflect this artistic phase of the Parthian empire. It was found at Nisa. Nisa was an important commercial centre within the Parthian Empire. Under Mithridates I (r. c. 171–138 BCE), it was renamed Mithradātkert (Parthian: 𐭌𐭕𐭓𐭃𐭕𐭊𐭓𐭕, meaning “fortress of Mithradates”). The surrounding region was renowned for producing horses noted for their beauty, agility, and strength. The city was completely destroyed by an earthquake in the first decade BCE.

[sewercentipede]

Persian/Iranic fashion throughout the ages (via)

[theancientwayoflife]

~ Tetradrachm of Kingdom of Parthia with bust of Orodes II.

Culture: Greek

Period: Late Hellenistic Period

Date: 57–37 B.C.

Mint: Kingdom of Parthia

Place of origin: Seleukeia-on-the-Tigris (Babylonia)

Medium: Silver

[worldhistoryfacts]

The Parthian city of Hatra, in modern Ipaq, boasted all sorts of remarkable statues, each representing the collision of cultures that took place there. We have this statue of a man wearing armor that looks an awful lot like Roman military garb. On his breastplate is Shamash, a Mesopotamian sun deity. But at his feet, we see Tyche, the Greek goddess of luck:

I find this young soldier — also found at Hatra — quite striking, with his distinctive armor, bushy hair, and robust mustache:

More from ancient Parthia here:

An Ancient Crossroads of Culture

The Parthians were more than rivals to Rome

{Buy me a coffee} {WHF} {Medium} {Looking Through the Past}

[corporialus]

Parthian drachms, the same reverse design roughly three centuries apart.

the left being an issue struck under Mithradates I between 141 and 132 bce, and the right being an issue under Vologases VI, struck around 207 to 228 ce.

[baebeylik]

Horse Head. Parthian Iran. 2nd to 3rd Century CE.

The Walters Art Museum.

[whencyclopedia]

The Roman–Parthian conflict (53 BCE–217 CE) was a centuries-long struggle for dominance in Western Asia between the Roman Republic, later Empire, and the Arsacid dynasty of Parthia. It began with Rome’s eastward expansion and Parthia’s determination to defend its independence, producing repeated wars without decisive supremacy. The conflict opened with Crassus’ crushing defeat at Carrhae in 53 BCE...

[estera-shirin]

Sculpture of a woman—Ctesiphon, Mesopotamia (now Iraq), second century BCE to second century CE

This figure of standing a woman was created in the Parthian Empire sometime from the second century BCE to the second century CE. It was found in Ctesiphon, which is now part of Iraq.