Journal of Ancient Iranian Studies
Volume:2 Issue: 5, 2023

Despite the Medes’ extensive engagements in military, trade, and production activities, their pivotal role in toppling the formidable Assyrian Empire with the collaboration of the Neo-Babylonians, as well as showing the authority and wisdom of the ancient Iranians to the Greeks in Anatolia, but they had one of the least-known periods in the history of ancient Iran. This obscurity primarily arises from a dearth of archaeological artifacts, incongruities between classical Greek accounts and contemporary Mesopotamian sources, and the scarcity of indigenous Median documents. Over the past two centuries, attempts have been made to reassess and reinterpret the Medes’ identity and historical trajectory, yet the historiography of the Median period has largely remained a peripheral subject for scholars, leaving numerous unresolved queries. One of the foremost enigmas pertains to the configuration of the Median kingdom and its associated facets, such as its capital city and political nucleus. This essay endeavors to scrutinize the uncertainties surrounding the Medes’ capital, existing scholarly perspectives on this matter, and potential resolutions.

One of the basic principles of the stability and strength of governments has been their ability to establish internal security and protect borders against the threat of foreigners. The Parthian Empire, which struggled with hostile forces on several fronts since its inception, had to consolidate its position by expanding security inside the country and guarding its borders against foreign powers. This action was necessary both for the defense of the country and the policy of expanding the territory. The Parthians developed mechanisms that might ensure the internal security and border regions of Iran by utilizing the ancient legacy and innovating. Managing nomadic tribes, tiny cities, and puppet governments, as well as ongoing performance monitoring, allowed for the protection of the frontiers and the establishment of internal security. This research discusses the strategies of the Parthian state in protecting the borders and creating internal security against external threats and internal problems. In this regard, the Parthian period’s historical sources are examined in light of the material culture recovered from this time.

The San Rossam crypt is located in the Hozmanvand Gorge, on the west bank of the Jezman River, on the nomadic route that passes through this gorge. This nomadic route connects the northern plains, namely Halashi and Mayasht (Mahidasht), with the southern areas, namely Holeylan and neighboring areas, and is of strategic importance. San Rossam is a type of free crypt. This crypt has a rectangular cube shape and its entrance is facing north. The Jezman River flows from the south and behind it. This issue, along with other factors, such as the fact that it was created next to the nomadic route, makes its use as a tomb doubtful. According to its location, it probably has had other functions. Possibly, this crypt was a place for guarding, resting (like Taq-e Gara), and grain storage, or according to local narratives, it was a religious and ritual place. Some details of this crypt, such as the entrance shape, the cradle arch, and the construction method, are similar to some crypts. Besides, the method of removing the loose parts of the rock on the sides of the cellar is similar to the methods of separating stone blocks in the mines of this area and neighboring areas. These characteristics attribute the age of this crypt to the second half of the Parthian period.

The background of the relations between Iran and the Arabs goes back to before the Achaemenid period. An important part of these relations was due to the need of the nomadic people for the facilities available in the Iranian plateau and commercial goods that were traded between Iran, India, and China. The gradual migration of human communities from the southern shores of the Persian Gulf due to the lack of favorable conditions for human life has affected the socio-political structure of parts of the islands and coasts. The Arabs were active in part of the Persian Gulf trade in the shadow of culture and security caused by the control of the central government of Iran during the ancient era. The existence of a market network culture in the sea the importance of trade and the ease of passage of commercial ships caused peaceful relations between Iranians and the Arabs. Iranians and scattered Arab nomads lived side by side in economic and cultural interaction and provided the basis for the cultural and economic growth and prosperity of the Persian Gulf. This research aims to study the political relations between Iran and the Arabs in the Persian Gulf during the first 150 years of the Sassanid Empire, in a descriptive-analytical method, based on the written sources.

Cambyses II, following in the footsteps of Cyrus the Great, continued the Achaemenid policy of consolidating and expanding the empire’s territorial holdings. One of the strategic territorialization endeavors involved a campaign to Egypt, the preparations for which had been initiated during Cyrus’s reign and executed by Cambyses. This military campaign resulted in the annexation of Egypt to the vast Achaemenid Empire. To gain a more profound insight into the reciprocal cultural influences between the Achaemenids and Egypt, it is imperative to meticulously examine the extant archaeological evidence from this period, unearthed and studied by diverse archaeologists and scholars. This article aims to provide a critical assessment of the book Achaemenids in Egypt with a focus on archaeological evidence.