Die Parther - die vergessene Großmacht - newly edited and expanded second edition

„The Parthians - the forgotten Emire“ By: Uwe Ellerbrock / Sylvia Winkelmann ISBN 978-3-8053-4828-7 Verlag: Philipp von Zabern, Darmstadt

Summery: The book „Die Parther - die vergessene Großmacht“ („The Parthians - the forgotten Emire“), which is published in autumn 2015 in a newly edited and expanded second edition, gives a fascinating overview of the historical and cultural development of this so little known Empire (ca. 247 BC ─ 224 AD). The well-structured book begins, after a general introduction, with the history before the rise of the Parthians, which illuminates especially the Empire of the Achaemenids (The Persians), the Empire of Alexander the Great and the Seleucid Empire. The next chapter focusses on the rise, flowering and decline of the Parthian Empire and includes the wars with the Romans in the west and with the nomads in the east. Our knowledge about this kingdom is limited by the lack of primary sources. To create the genealogy of the Parthian kings, Parthian coins are crucial, which is why a special emphasis is given in the book to the Parthian numismatics. In a comprehensive way a dicussion follows concerning the relationship of the Parthians with their nomadic enemies in the east (the Sakas, the Sarmatians and the Kushans). The next chapter describes the development of the Graeco-Bactrian Kingdom, the Indo-Scythian Kingdom and the Indo-Parthian Empire. Another light is then thrown upon the Parthian vassal states such as the Elymais, the Characene or the Kingdom of Hatra. With the detailed representation of the Parthian sculptures, reliefs or rock art, the essence of an independent Parthian art is illuminated, which is only recognized by recent research as such. The theme of the Parthian art continues with the aspects of the Parthian urbanism and Parthian architecture elements. The reader is further informed about the military structure of their army an their weapons, by which the Parthians were able to defeat the Roman army. Various insights into the social life are given by reporting about the Parthian dress, Parthian language and literature, as well as agriculture and trade. The book concludes with a chapter on the religion of the Parthians.

The easy to read and richly illustrated book, which is equipped with numerous maps and an index, not only will give an excellent overview of the history and culture of the Parthian Empire to the reader with a general interest in history and culture, but should be regarded for students as the current standard work on the Parthians, as it contains about 550 citations as well as an extensive list of the current literature.

Table of Contents The Parthian Empire – a prelimenary approach Geography of the Parthian Empire Literary sources / Primary sources / Secondary sources Antique sources - historical correctness or distorsion? Parthian Coins Preparthian history Elam - the first civilisation in Iran The Medes and Persians The Achmaemenids Alexander the Great The Seleucids Genealogy of the Parthian Kings, The structure of the Parthian Empire The king The king and his propaganda The investiture of the kings Ruler-cult and deification of the Parthian kings The Parthian nobility The structure of the administration Parthian language and the standardisation in the administration The administration of justice The Queen and political marriage The vassel states and kingdoms under parthian influence

The Osrhoene The Gordyene The Adiabene and the Media Atropatene The Characene The Elymais The Persis The kingdom of Hatra Parthian Towns and towns under parthian influence developpment

Architecture and urban

1. Towns in Middel-Asia Nisa, Merw, Mansur-Depe, Herat, Göbekly-Depe, Shar-e-Qumis, Rhagae, Ecbatana, Susa, Shami, Masjid-e Solaiman und Bard-e Nishandeh 2. Towns in Syra and Mesopotamia Dura Europos, Palmyra, Hatra, Assur, Seleukia am Tigris, Ktesiphon, Babylon Nippur, Uruk Parthian Architecture und towns Alientaion of hellenistic and roman architectural structures The use of stucco in architecture The Iwan The Cupola The structure of the town Parthian markets The Parthians and their nomad enemies in Eurasia. cultural fransfer between East and West The Sarmats The Sakes The Graeco-Bactrian Empire The Indo-Skythian Empire The Indo-Parthian Empire The Kushan

The Parthians and their army The Structure Kataphracts The partian weapons Parthian soldiers in Germania? Parthian economy and trade (by land / by river / by see) Merchandise Parthian customs Natural ressources - Mining Agriculture Producture of wine and wine-trade Watersupply and distribution - Quanats Animal breeding - Parthian horses Insights into social life Language, writing Inscriptions on parthian coins, Parthian literature (Vis and Ramin/ The hymn of the Pearl/ Heroic epic) Parthian literature and its influence in Europe Theater, Parthian costumes of men (riding-trousers and jackets) Parthian costumes of women Education, Parthian Music Slaves in Parthia Parthian income Parthian cooking Calculation of Parthian time Calender Astronomy Parthian art Early Parthian art or contemporary art of the Parthians developped Parthian art (Frontility, Rock-carving, wall-paintures, mosaic, relief,

Sculptures, glyptic, jewellery) Religion Religions in the Parthian Empire Zoroastrianism and their gods (Mithra, Anahita, Nana, Ardochscho, Verethragna, Kvarrah) The magis - the Wise Men from the east Zoroastrianism and archaeological findings The Jews in Parthia The Christians in Parthia Manichaeism Burial practise among Parthians