Parthian
From Arsacid empire
Parthian refers to the ancient Iranian empire that dominated Persia and Mesopotamia from roughly 250 BCE to 224 CE, or to its people and language.
The term survives mainly in Parthian shot—a parting remark or hostile gesture delivered while departing, from the Parthian cavalry's tactic of shooting arrows backward while retreating at full gallop.
- MesopotamiaTigris-Euphrates river region
- Silk RoadHistoric transcontinental trade network
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
- satrapSubordinate provincial ruler
Final barb when departing
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- backwardToward what's behind
- archerOne who shoots arrows
- tacticalStrategically planned
harassing · volley · horseback · deceptive · rearward · mounted archer · skirmish · withdrawal
Fully armored horse soldier
- horse archerCavalry using bows
- mountedFixed in position
- cavalryMounted military force
- lancersSoldiers with long weapons
saddle · bridle · gallop · maneuver · skirmish · composite bow · armored · charge
Roman general and statesman
- TrajanSecond-century Roman emperor
- legionGreat number, or soldiers
- campaignsOrganized efforts toward goals
- frontierEdge of settlement
Euphrates · Armenia · Syria · hostilities · treaty · captives · standards · buffer states
Ancient Semitic language
- inscriptionsWords carved into surfaces
- parchmentsPrepared animal-skin documents
- scriptWritten words for performance
- bilingualSpeaking two languages
Mithridates
- MesopotamiaTigris-Euphrates river region
- Silk RoadHistoric transcontinental trade network
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
satrap · dynastic · succession · Hellenistic
parting shot
Final barb when departing
tactical · harassing · volley · horseback · deceptive · rearward · mounted archer · skirmish · withdrawal · final word
cataphract
Fully armored horse soldier
- horse archerCavalry using bows
- mountedFixed in position
- cavalryMounted military force
lancers · saddle · bridle · gallop · maneuver · skirmish · composite bow · armored · charge · mobile
Antony
Roman general and statesman
- TrajanSecond-century Roman emperor
- legionGreat number, or soldiers
- campaignsOrganized efforts toward goals
frontier · Euphrates · Armenia · Syria · hostilities · treaty · captives · standards · buffer states
Aramaic
Ancient Semitic language
- inscriptionsWords carved into surfaces
- parchmentsPrepared animal-skin documents
- scriptWritten words for performance
- IranIran, Tehran, Isfahan, Persia, Shiraz
- Dead LanguagesLatin, Sanskrit, ancient Greek, Old English, Hittite
- Iranian languagesPersian, Farsi, Dari, Kurdish, Pashto
- Middle IranianMiddle Persian
- ZoroastrianismZoroaster, Zarathustra, Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas, sacred fire
- Ancient PersiaPersepolis, Cyrus the Great, Xerxes, Behistun inscription, satrap