A coin of Shapur I

Shapur I, son of Ardashir I, was king of Persia from 241 to 272. The Persian legend which makes him the son of an Arsacid princess is not historical. Image File history File links Shapur_i. ... Image File history File links Shapur_i. ... Shapur I, son of Ardashir I, was king of Persia from 241 to 272. ... Silver coin of Ardashir I with a fire altar on its verso (British Museum London) Ardashir I (early Middle Persian Arđaxšēr Who has the Divine Order as his Kingdom), also known as Ardashīr-i Pāpagān Ardashir, son of Pāpağ and as Artaxerxes, was ruler... The Sassanid Empire in the time of Shapur I; the conquests west of the Euphrat were only temporally Official language Pahlavi (Middle Persian) Dominant Religion Zoroastrianism Capital Ctesiphon Sovereigns Shahanshah of the Iran (Eranshahr) First Ruler Ardashir I Last Ruler Yazdegerd III Establishment 224 AD Dissolution 651 AD Part of... Events Shapur I of Persia succeeds Ardashir I Births Deaths Ardashir I, first ruler of the Sassanids Categories: 241 ... Events Roman emperor Aurelian reconquers the kingdom of Palmyra (Egypt and large parts of Asia Minor), forcing queen Zenobia to flee to Parthia. ... The Arsacid Dynasty ruled Persia. ...

Co-rulership

Shapur was the son of Ardashir I I and "Lady Myrôd". He participated in his father's campaign against the Arsacids. Ardašir "judged him the gentlest, wisest, bravest and ablest of all his children", and nominated him as his successor in an assembly of the magnates. He appears in Ardašir's Sasanian Investiture reliefs at Naqš-e Rajab (q.v) and Firuzâbâd as the heir apparent (Hinz, 1969, pp 56ff and passim), and our data indicate that he later shared rulership with his father. Bal'ami states that "Ardašir placed with his own hand his own crown upon Shapur's head", and Mas'udi confirmings this, adds that Ardašir then retired to serve God and lived for a year or longer. The testimony of the Cologne Mani Codex that in Mani's twenty-fourth year, i.e. in 240, Ardašir "subjugated the city of Hatra and King Shapur, his son, placed on his head the great (royal) diadem", also indicates a period of synarchy. In late 242, the Emperor Gordianus III sent a letter from Antioch in Syria to the senate claiming that he had removed the threat "of Persian kings" (reges persarum) from the city, which means that in 242 Persia had two kings. Indeed, Ardašir's lates coins continues his usual reverse type of an elaborate fire altar and the legend: "Fire of Ardaxštar" but it portrays him facing a youthful prince - symbolically representing Shapur and a new legend "Divine Shapur King of Iran whose seed is from gods". Shapur's own coins show him wearing his famous mural crown and a fire altar flanked by two attendants. Clearly, Ardašir issued that series when he appointed Shapur co-regent. A rock-relief at Salmâs in Atropatekan (today known as Azarbaijan) province depicting two horsemen both wearing Ardašir's lower-type crown, must also date from the period of synarchy. Another, at Dârâbgerd, represents a victory of Shapur I over the Romans but the king wears Ardasir's crown, thereby symbolizing the shared victory of the father and the son. Silver coin of Ardashir I with a fire altar on its verso (British Museum London) Ardashir I (early Middle Persian ArÄ‘axÅ¡Ä“r Who has the Divine Order as his Kingdom), also known as ArdashÄ«r-i Pāpagān Ardashir, son of PāpaÄŸ and as Artaxerxes, was ruler... The Arsacid Dynasty ruled Persia. ... INVESTITURE, from the Latin (preposition in and verb vestire, dress from vestis robe) is a rather general term for the formal installation of an incumbent (heir, elect of nominee) in his public office, especially by talking possession of its insignia. ... Mani may have one of the following meanings. ... Hatra (al-aar الحضر) is an ancient ruined city in the former Iranian province of Khvarvaran, today part of Iraq, located at 35°34′ N 42°42′ E. It was an important fortified city of the Iranian Parthian Empire, and withstood repeated attacks by the Roman Empire. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ...

Accession

The date of Shapur's coronation has been much debated. The testimony of his courtier Âbnun that the Romans marched against Persia "in the 3rd year of Shapur, king of kings," proves that Shapur's accession was in 240, as Henning calculated from the evidence of Bišâpur's inscription that separates Ardašir' royal fire from that of his son by 16 years. He further correctly interpreted the Manichean report that the day of Shapur's coronation "was Sunday, the first of Nisan, when the sun was in Aries" with reference to Sunday 12 April, 240. A magnificently executed rock-relief at Naqš-e Rajab symbolically commemorates Shpur's investiture: Ohrmazd, on horseback, offers the diademed ring of royalty to Shapur, who is likewise mounted, but his figure is mutilated by subsequent vandalism.

Offensive war against the Roman Empire

Ardashir I had towards the end of his reign renewed the war against the Roman Empire; Shapur conquered the Mesopotamian fortresses Nisibis and Carrhae and advanced into Syria; but he was driven back by Timesitheus, father-in-law of the young emperor, Gordian III, and defeated at Resaena in 243. For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation) The Roman Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Ancient Roman polity in the centuries following its reorganization under the leadership of Octavian (better known as Augustus), until its radical reformation in what was later to be known as the Byzantine... Sumerian list of gods in cuneiform script, ca. ... The newly excavated Church of Saint Jacob in Nisibis. ... Harran, also known as Carrhae, is an archeological site in present day southeastern Turkey, 24 miles (39 kilometers) southeast of Sanli Urfa. ... Gordian III Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius (January 20, 225-244), known in English as Gordian III, was Roman emperor from 238 to 244. ... Events Gordian III defeats Shapur I of Persia at Resaena Births Deaths Categories: 243 ...

Shortly afterwards Timesitheus died, and Gordian was murdered by Philip the Arab, who concluded an ignominious peace with the Persians in 244. When the invasion of the Goths and the continuous elevation of new emperors after the death of Trajan Decius (251) brought the Roman Empire to utter dissolution, Shapur resumed his attacks. Emperor Philip the Arab 100 Syrian pound note with Philip the Arab Marcus Julius Philippus (about 204 - 249), known in English as Philip the Arab after the origin of his family, was a Roman emperor from 244 to 249. ... The Persians of Iran (officially named Persia by West until 1935 while still referred to as Persia by some) are an Iranian people who speak Persian (locally named Fârsi by native speakers) and often refer to themselves as ethnic Iranians as well. ... Events Roman Emperor Gordian III dies under unclear circumstances while in war against Shapur I of Persia. ... Invasion of the Goths: a late 19th century painting by O. Fritsche portrays the Goths as cavalrymen. ... Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius (201-251), Roman emperor (249 - 251), the first of the long succession of distinguished men from the Illyrian provinces, was born at Budalia near Sirmium in lower Pannonia. ... Events July 1 – In the Battle of Abrittus, the Goths defeat the Romans; emperors Decius and Herennius Etruscus are killed. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation) The Roman Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Ancient Roman polity in the centuries following its reorganization under the leadership of Octavian (better known as Augustus), until its radical reformation in what was later to be known as the Byzantine...

He conquered Armenia, invaded Syria, and plundered Antioch. At last the emperor Valerian marched against him, but Valerian was taken prisoner in the Roman-controlled province of Edessa, when he attempted to meet for negotiations in 260. Shapur advanced into Asia Minor, but was beaten by Ballista; and now Septimius Odenathus, prince of Palmyra, rose in his rear, defeated the Persian army, reconquered Carrhae and Nisibis, captured the royal harem, and twice invested Ctesiphon (263-265) in Khvarvaran province nowadays Iraq. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Valerian on a coin celebrating goddess Fortuna, associated with health and wealth. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Events Valerian I captured by the Persian king Shapur I; Gallienus becomes sole Roman emperor. ... Anatolia (Greek: ανατολη anatole, rising of the sun or East; compare Orient and Levant, by popular etymology Turkish Anadolu to ana mother and dolu filled), also called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, is a region of Southwest Asia which corresponds today to the Asian portion of Turkey. ... A Ballista The ballista (Latin, from Greek ballistÄ“s, from ballein to throw, plural ballistae) is a powerful weapon resembling a giant crossbow, to eject heavy darts singly or in groups. ... Septimius Odaenathus, or Odenatus (Greek: (Hodainathos), Palmyrene אחינל = little ear), the Latinized form of Odainath, was a famous prince of Palmyra, in the second half of the 3rd century AD, who succeeded in recovering the Roman East from the Persians and restoring it to the Empire. ... Palmyra (now Tadmor,تدمر, Syria) was an ancient city in central Syria, located on an oasis about 210 km (130 mi) northeast of Damascus. ... In traditional Arab culture, the harîm حريم (cf. ... Ctesiphon (Parthian: Tyspwn as well as Tisfun) is one of the great cities of ancient Mesopotamia and the capital of the Iranian Parthian Empire and its successor, the Sassanid Empire, for more than 800 years located in ancient Iranian province of Khvarvaran. ... Events The Wei Kingdom conquered the kingdom of Shu Han, one of the Chinese Three Kingdoms. ... Events Wei Yuandi abdicates, end of the China. ... Khvārvarān, (Modern Iraq)From the Fall of Sasanian Dynasty to the Arab Occupations and Umayyads In CE 600 the country which in our modern time known as Iraq was a province of the Iranian Empire, to which it had belonged to Iran since Cyrus the Great. ...

Shapur receives the homage of Valerian, the Roman emperor he defeated and took prisoner

Shapur was unable to resume the offensive; he even lost Armenia again. But according to Persian traditions, which appear to be trustworthy, he conquered the great fortress of Hatra in the Mesopotamian desert. Roman emperor Valerian prisoner kneels in front of the Persian king Shapur I. Relief in Naqš-i Rustam. ... Roman emperor Valerian prisoner kneels in front of the Persian king Shapur I. Relief in Naqš-i Rustam. ... Hatra (al-aar الحضر) is an ancient ruined city in the former Iranian province of Khvarvaran, today part of Iraq, located at 35°34′ N 42°42′ E. It was an important fortified city of the Iranian Parthian Empire, and withstood repeated attacks by the Roman Empire. ...

Capture of Valerian

One of the great achievements of his reign was that he kept the Roman emperor Valerian I prisoner to the day of his death. In the valley of Istakhr (near Persepolis), under the tombs of the Achaemenids at Naksh-i Rustam, Shapur is represented on horseback, in the royal armour, with the crown on his head; before him kneels Valerian, in Roman dress, asking for grace. The same scene is represented on the rocks near the ruins of the towns Darabjird and Shapur in Persia. Valerian on a coin celebrating goddess Fortuna, associated with health and wealth. ... Istakhr(Ǐ-stáxÇœr), also known as Stakhr, is a city located in southern Iran close to Persepolis and Zohak. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Achaemenid empire at its greatest extent The Achaemenid Dynasty (Hakamanishiya in the Old Persian (Avestan ??) language - transliterated Hakamanshee in Modern Persian) - was a dynasty in the ancient Persian Empire. ... NæqÅ¡-e Rostæm, near Shiraz Tomb of Naksh-i Rustam (modern Persian NæqÅ¡-e Rostæm) is an archaeological site in Iran. ...

Builder of cities

Shapur left other reliefs and rock inscriptions; one, at Nakshi-Rajab near Persepolis, is accompanied by a Greek translation; here he calls himself "the Mazdayasnian (worshipper of Ahuramazda), the god Sapores, king of kings of the Aryans [Iranians] and non-Aryans, of divine descent, son of the Mazdayasnian, the god Artaxares, king of kings of the Aryans, grandson of the god-king Papak." Another long inscription at Hajjiabad (Istakhr) mentions the king's exploits in archery in the presence of his nobles. Ahura Mazda (Persian هرمز (Hormoz) also transcripted as Ormazad, Ormuzd, Hormuz, Ormus, Ohrmizd) - The Wise Lord - is the god of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia. ... Aryan is an English word derived from the Indo-Aryan Vedic Sanskrit and Iranian Avestan terms ari-, arya-, ārya-, and/or the extended form aryāna-. The Old Persian (Iranian) ariya- is a cognate as well. ...

From his titles we learn that Shapur I claimed the sovereignty over the whole Earth, although in reality his domain extended little farther than that of Ardashir I. Earth, also known as Terra, and Tellus mostly in the 19th century, is the third-closest planet to the Sun. ...

Shapur built the great town Gundishapur near the old Achaemenian capital of Susa, and increased the fertility of this rich district by a barrage through the Karun river near Shushter, which was built by the Roman prisoners and is still called Band-i-Kaisar, "the mole of the Caesar." He is also responsible for building the city of Bishapur, which was built by Roman soldiers who had been captured after the defeat of Valerian in 260. Under his reign the prophet Mani, the founder of Manichaeism began his preaching in Persia, and the king himself seems to have favoured his ideas. The Academy of Gundishapur (also Jondishapoor, Jondishapur, and Jondishapour, Gondeshapur, GONDÊ SHÂPÛR, etc. ... For other uses of the name Susa please see this page. ... Shûshtar is an ancient fortress city in the Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. ... City of Bishapur Another view of Bishapur Bishapur (or Bishâpûr) is an ancient city situated south of modern Faliyan, Iran on the ancient road between Persis and Elam. ... Events Valerian I captured by the Persian king Shapur I; Gallienus becomes sole Roman emperor. ... Mani (in Persian مانی), born in western Persia (approximately 210-276 A.D.), was a religious preacher and the founder of Manichaeism, an ancient gnostic religion that was once prolific but now considered extinct. ... Manichean priests, writing at their desk, with panel inscription in Sogdian. ...

Friend to the Jews

Shmuel, one of the most famous of the Amoraim of "Bavel" (Babylonia), was occasionally referred to as Shvor Malka, which is the Aramaic form of the name of the Persian king, Shapur, with whom Shmuel was quite friendly. Because of this friendship, many advantages were gained for the Jewish community. In the Old Testament, Samuel or Shmuel (שְׁמוּאֵל Name/Heard of God, Standard Hebrew Šəmuʾel, Tiberian Hebrew Šəmûʾēl) is a leader of ancient Israel. ... Amora, plural Amoraim, (from the Hebrew root amar to say or tell over), were renowned Jewish scholars who said or told over the teachings of the Oral law, from about 200 to 500 CE in Babylonia and Palestine. ... Babylonia, named for the city of Babylon, was an ancient state in Mesopotamia (in modern Iraq), combining the territories of Sumer and Akkad. ... Aramaic is a Semitic language with a four-thousand year history. ...

See also

• Bishapur
• Nishapur

City of Bishapur Another view of Bishapur Bishapur (or Bishâpûr) is an ancient city situated south of modern Faliyan, Iran on the ancient road between Persis and Elam. ... Location of Neyshapur Tomb of Omar Khayyám, Neishabur Tomb of Kamal-ol-Molk, Neishabur. ...

References

• This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, which is in the public domain.
• The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies at SOAS (CASI at SOAS)