The Persian Empire

[Spiderman]

The Persians were the second world empire, the one mentioned often in Scripture. The existence of the Empire was prophesied in advance and represented in several dreams God gave to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. These dreams so troubled the king that it kept him awake all night. He sought their interpretation amongst his magicians, astrologers and sorcerers - his wise men.These 'wise men' had to first state what the king dreamed BEFORE they gave its meaning! The king was so serious about the matter that he declared if his counselors could not tell him his dream they, and their entire households, would receive the death penalty. Sounds quite stupid!

The Jews escaped total extermination from the Persians by the intercession of Queen Esther. She had found favor with the King of Persia and her intercession saved the Jewish race. The saving of the Jewish race, (which took place 483 BC) is celebrated by Jews every year in a festival known as Purim. The Catholic Church considers Queen Esther to be a prefigurement of Mary, whose intercession with the King saves the world from destruction (or so they say).

Anyhow, I was intrigued by the size of it. That covers a chunk of land that would make Napoleon and most Emperors quite jealous. I wasn't expecting it to be half that size.

 

[Dawnofhope]

The Persians were the second world empire,

Interesting post. King Cyrus of course was named the annointed one in Isaiah on of the most important books in the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. Its interesting that God gives this title to one who isn't a Jew but a Persian. He went on assist the Jews rebuild their temple.

 

[MD]

The map and Persian empire you are discussing are the Achameanian empire.

Cyrus freed the Jews because the Persians at the time had values very similar to classical liberals. There are theories that Cyrus was influenced by Zoroastrian philosophy, but at the height of the Achameanian empire Persia was undergoing a massive shift in cultural values and ideas. These principles went on to influence Greek philosophy and eventually Christianity.

The Achaemenians had an empire that ruled half the worlds population at the time. Their main religion was Zoroastrianism, yet they were generally tolerant of other faiths. Just goes to show how cultures can fluctuate between liberal and non liberal societies. Also goes to show how time eventually changes things.

The Achaemenians were conquered by Alexander and dismantled. After them came the Parthians and Sassanian, Persian Empires within their own right. They literally had a 700 year war with the Romans, weakening each other to the point that Islam took Persia and the Eastern Roman Empire.

 

[Spiderman]

The map and Persian empire you are discussing are the Achameanian empire.

Cyrus freed the Jews because the Persians at the time had values very similar to classical liberals. There are theories that Cyrus was influenced by Zoroastrian philosophy, but at the height of the Achameanian empire Persia was undergoing a massive shift in cultural values and ideas. These principles went on to influence Greek philosophy and eventually Christianity.

The Achaemenians had an empire that ruled half the worlds population at the time. Their main religion was Zoroastrianism, yet they were generally tolerant of other faiths. Just goes to show how cultures can fluctuate between liberal and non liberal societies. Also goes to show how time eventually changes things.

The Achaemenians were conquered by Alexander and dismantled. After them came the Parthians and Sassanian, Persian Empires within their own right. They literally had a 700 year war with the Romans, weakening each other to the point that Islam took Persia and the
Eastern Roman Empire.

Excellent informative post!

A 700 year war is the longest war I've heard of.

You're an atheist right?

 

[Spiderman]

Iran is Persia and they have dreams of another Persian Empire it seems:
The Iranian dream of a reborn Persian Empire | New York Post