A team of archaeologists led by Dr. William Deadman from the Department of Archaeology at Durham University has successfully pinpointed the site of the historic Battle of al-Qadisiyyah. This battle, which took place between 637 and 638 CE, is known as a key confrontation in the expansion of Islam beyond the Arabian Peninsula, culminating in […]
Sassanian Empire
Posted inAntiquity
Cataphracts, The Armored Warriors of Heavy Cavalry in Antiquity
But as soon as the first light of day appeared, the gleaming chainmail, girded with steel bands, and the shining breastplates, seen from afar, showed that the king’s forces were near. This is how Ammianus Marcellinus, a Roman historian who also served as a soldier in the legions of Emperors Constantius II and Julian in […]
Posted inAntiquity, Middle Ages
Takht-e Soleymān, the Fortress that Housed the Most Sacred Place of the Sassanian Empire
Takht-e Soleymān, known as the Throne of Solomon, is one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in Iran, located in the West Azerbaijan province near the modern city of Takab. This fortified sanctuary, dating back to the Sasanian and early Islamic periods, has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 2003, due […]
Posted inMedieval Archaeology
Sassanian Empire-Era Structures and Artifacts Discovered in the City of Najaf in Iraq
The General Authority of Antiquities and Heritage of Iraq announced the discovery of remains of buildings and a variety of objects at the site of Tell al-Badu, south of the city of Najaf (Najaf al-Ashraf). The director of the Excavation Department of the Authority, Soheil al-Tamimi, explained that the local mission has uncovered parts of […]
Posted inAntiquity
Mesrob Mashtots, the Armenian Monk of the 5th Century AD who Invented Alphabets
Čanačʿel zimastutʿiwn ew zxrat, imanal zbans hančaroy (To seek wisdom and discipline, to understand insightful words…) This quote is from the Book of Proverbs (1:2), one of the books of the Old Testament traditionally attributed to Solomon. It is also said to be the phrase chosen by the monk Mesrob Mashtots to translate the Bible […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Three qanat systems built by the Parthians and the Sassanids in Iraq between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD uncovered in Iraq
Professor Ali Obeid Shilgam, the Director General of the Department of Archaeological Research in Iraq, announced the findings during archaeological survey work in the Diyala region, where three qanat systems dating from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD were uncovered. Qanats, also known as underground aqueducts, are among the oldest irrigation systems […]
Posted inMedieval Archaeology
Archaeologists uncover the ancient city of Jalula, where Sasanians and Muslims engaged in a historic clash back in 637 AD
In an exciting announcement, the General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage of Iraq has revealed the discovery of the boundaries and various structures of the ancient city of Jalula, the city that witnessed the famous battle of the same name 1386 years ago. The Director-General of the Directorate of Research and Archaeological Excavations, Professor Ali […]
Posted inAntiquity
How did the Persians count their battle casualties?
On April 19, 531 A.D., two fairly evenly matched forces (about 20,000 men on each side) clashed on the banks of the Euphrates near present-day Raqqah in Syria. On one side were the Byzantine troops under the command of Belisarius, and on the other those of the Sassanian Empire led by Azarethes.
