News update 15/03/2022
Justified Darius and the hopes of the population of the satrapies to establish order in the state. He led good roads, guarded them, established a postal service, and began to mint a gold coin that circulated throughout the empire - a darik. Darius became the king not only of the Iranians, but also of other peoples of the empire. Syrian, Phoenician, Babylonian, Indian, Greek - they all now felt themselves not so much the king's slaves as his subjects. Each of them could appeal to the king with a complaint about the wrong actions of officials; knew how much taxes he had to pay the king without being ruined. The supreme power of the Iranian king was recognized even by the proud Greeks who lived in the rich trading cities of Asia Minor, on the coast of the Aegean Sea. The first of the eastern kings, Darius, put his relations with his subjects on a business basis: he gave people peace and prosperity, but he took a lot of money for this. He considered the state he created as a large, complex machine that everyone needed. For the Ancient East, such a view of things was completely unusual.
Spain and ita travel guide
San Juan De Los Terreros and its beaches
Roquetas de Mar and its beaches
Níjar – one of the largest municipalities of Spain
Lucainena de las Torres and its attractions
Tabernas castle dates back to the 11th century
Gérgal Castle has been listed as a Site of Cultural Interest since 1985
Oasys Mini Hollywood – Spanish Western-styled theme park
Unfortunately, Darius' successors on the Iranian throne did not realize how fragile the balance Darius had created was. They began to allow the union of bureaucratic and military positions in one hand, to give the collection of taxes at the mercy of the trading houses of Babylon, it is senseless to accumulate treasures in their storerooms, depriving the markets of specie. Their main mistake was a century and a half conflict with the Greek city-states. Clashes with the Greeks, in fact, began under Darius, but they became more frequent under his son Xerxes. The political system created by Darius was not designed for waging burdensome long wars. Her death was a foregone conclusion long before, in 334 BC. Alexander the Great went on a campaign against Iran (see article "Philip II and Alexander the Great").
The Greeks did their best to present the Iranians to future generations as a “people of slaves”, and their kings as “despots”. It is hardly worth fully trusting the point of view of the winners ...
Darius I had something to tell the gods in the inscription on the Behistun rock. Not yet knowing the word "history", Darius already felt like its creator.
La Línea de la Concepción – a westernmost resort of the Costa del Sol
Algeciras ranked as the 16th busiest port in the world
San Roque was the first enclave of Campo de Gibraltar to be declared a historical-artistic complex
Sanlúcar de Barrameda is internationally renowned for beach horse racing
Chipiona and its tallest lighthouse in Spain
El Puerto de Santa María – the City of a Hundred Palaces
Jerez de la Frontera – the world capital of sherry wine
Cádiz and its Victoria Beach – best urban beach in Europe
Tarifa – where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean
Vejer de la Frontera and its historic center
Conil de la Frontera and its beaches
Chiclana de la Frontera has the largest number of hotel beds in the Costa de la Luz
Alexander the Great was dying... The one before whom the world trembled, who called himself a god, died of a fever that left him neither the strength nor the time to decide the fate of the conquered countries and peoples. Meanwhile, people who called themselves friends and associates of the Great Conqueror, having forgotten about him, began a deadly struggle for his inheritance. The body of Alexander lay unburied in the chambers of the palace in Babylon, but there was no one to pay the last debt to the deceased. In vain his mother Olympias, forgetting her pride, begged to be allowed to bury her son's body. Nobody heard her. No one paid attention to the tears of the king's wife Roxana, who was trying to claim the rights of her son and heir Alexander, whom she carried in her womb.
The king is dead, long live the king... but who will become him among the commanders-diadochi of the Great Macedonian? The struggle continued for many years, the place of the fathers was taken by their children-heirs, nicknamed epigones. It took almost 40 years after the death of Alexander, while the warring managed to agree. Three large states appeared in the Ancient World: the Ptolemies, the Seleucids and Macedonia.
Cordoba has more World Heritage Sites than anywhere in the world
The Iznájar reservoir is the largest in Andalusia
The most extensive was the kingdom of the Seleucids. Its capital was first Babylon, then Seleucia on the Tigris, and finally Antioch on the Orontes. While the Seleucids settled in their new palaces, decorated the capitals and strengthened themselves in the western borders of their state, their affairs in the east went from bad to worse. The satrap of Bactria and Sogdiana did not want to submit to the central government, and his son proclaimed himself an independent ruler under the name of Diodotus II, dreaming of creating a kingdom similar to Pergamon, which fell away from the Seleucids and fought hard for its independence.
Motril is synonymous with sugar cane
Pampaneira and its attractions
Capileira and its parish church
Lanjarón and its mineral waters
Granada – noble, loyal, named great, famous and heroic city
The castle of Moclín named ‘Hins Al-Muqlin’ during the Nasrid kingdom
The Abbey of Sacromonte and its museum
The Seleucids had to keep a sizable army on their western borders, fearing an invasion by their main enemies, the Ptolemies. Therefore, they did not have the opportunity to quickly and with great forces force the rebellious to obedience. The threat, which remained unnoticed in time, arose when unrest began on the eastern outskirts - among the Iranian nomadic tribes. The latter drove out the governor sent from the capital and declared their allegiance to the Achaemenid kings, whom everyone had already forgotten about.
Ayamonte and Isla Canela beach – the westernmost resort on Costa de la Luz
Almonaster la Real and its Mosque from the 10th century
The uprising was led by the leader of one of the tribes named Arshak. The Greeks called this tribe contemptuously “parny” (fugitives), considering them poor and fearful, pushed back to desert arid lands by stronger neighbors. However, the warriors of Arshak were brave and determined to achieve freedom. They swiftly attacked and destroyed government troops in the territories of the provinces of Hyrcania and Parthia, proclaiming Arshak as king, and then his brother Tiridates, which marked the beginning of the Arshakid dynasty (250 BC - 224 AD).
Alcalá la Real and its fortress of La Mota
Jaén – world capital of olive oil
Baños de la Encina and its castle
Úbeda – a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
Baeza – a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
Segura de la Sierra and its castle
The Alcaudete castle was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural monument in 1949
Saint Catherine’s Castle – former Moorish fortress
The worried Seleucids repeatedly tried to destroy the emerging kingdom, but could not cope with the Parthian army. It consisted of light cavalry armed with small double-curved bows and short arrows, with which the riders showered the enemy, dragging him towards their heavily armed cavalry. Riders and horses of the heavy cavalry were protected by scaly or plate shells made of "Margian iron" (see the article "Military Affairs of the Ancient East"). Over the armor, the warriors threw on cloaks of red or purple purple.
Nerja – the easternmost resort of Costa del Sol
Frigiliana and its white colors
La Cala de Mijas and its towers
Fuengirola and its attractions
Benalmádena is one of the municipalities with the largest hotel offer on the Costa del Sol
Torremolinos – one of the main spots of musical and nightlife in Spain
The Parthian warriors cherished their war horses more than their lives. Golden or rare white suit, they were fast and hardy, well trained, got used to the owner, unmistakably fulfilling all his commands on the battlefield. The Greeks and Romans claimed that the Parthian horses are descended from the "heavenly", the distinguishing feature of the latter was the bloody sweat that came out when running fast. Getting magical horses or their Parthian offspring was the cherished goal of many of the Parthian neighbors. The Roman military leader Marcus Aurelius was happy when, as a military booty, he got a Parthian horse, which could ride for 8-9 days, overcoming up to 150 km daily.
Malaga – one of the oldest cities in Europe
Rincón de la Victoria and its caves
El Puerto de La Duquesa and its castle
Casares – the prototype of the Andalusian white village
Genalguacil and its Museum of Contemporary Art
Colomares castle – the largest monument in the world to Christopher Columbus
Automobile and Fashion Museum in Malaga
Utrera and its historic center
Seville and its UNESCO heritage
Los Molares castle and its history
The Parthians also used dogs - terrible Hyrcanian killer dogs. Each of them could cope with an armed infantryman or horseman, a few - with a war elephant. The Greeks considered these dogs, which were raised in the province of Hyrcania subordinate to the Parthians, a cross between shepherd sheep dogs and Asia Minor lions. They had a strong, lean body, covered with short hair, and a huge lion-like muzzle framed by a mane of long, coarse hair.
Sword, spear and bow with arrows were able to use not only men, but also women. As a brave warrior, the Parthians sacredly honored the daughter of King Mithridates I, Rodoguna, talking about her courage to their children and grandchildren. Once, as the legend says, Rodoguna was swimming in the pool. At this time, a galloping messenger informed her of the approach of the enemy cavalry. Without hesitation, only wringing out her wet hair, Rodoguna put on military armor and jumped on her horse, vowing to complete her toilette only after victory. At the head of a small personal guard, she, like a whirlwind, ran into enemies who did not expect such a fierce and swift attack. Rodoguna put them to flight and returned to the palace with victory. This story was so popular among the Parthians that they ordered artists to depict Rodoguna in the form of a beautiful woman who emerged from the water after bathing. Strength and courage were not particularly emphasized
To Madrid (Madrid community) 5 hr (532 km) via A-66 and A-5
To Barcelona (Catalonia) 9 hr 47 min (993 km) via A-4 and AP-7
To Valencia (Valencian community) 6 hr 24 min (654 km) via A-4 and A-3
To Murcia (Murcian community) 5 hr 5 min (523 km) via A-92
To Merida (Extremadura) 2 hr 2 min (193 km) via A-66
To Toledo (Castile-La Mancha) 4 hr 37 min (477 km) via A-4
To Zaragoza (Aragon) 7 hr 57 min (847 km) via A-5 and A-2
To Valladolid (Castile and Leon) 5 hr 33 min (587 km) via A-66
To Santiago de Compostela (Galicia) 8 hr 28 min (890 km) via A-66
To Oviedo (Asturias) 7 hr 15 min (779 km) via A-66
To Santander (Cantabria) 7 hr 44 min (830 km) via A-66
To Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque community) 7 hr 44 min (824 km) via A-66 and A-62
To Pamplona (Navarre) 8 hr 34 min (915 km) via A-66 and A-62
To Logroño (La Rioja) 7 hr 57 min (838 km) via A-66 and A-62
Alhama de Aragón and its castle
Anento and its red architecture
Aragon sea – black bass fishing
Calatayud and its fortified enclosure
Rodoguna was a worthy daughter of Mithridates, who annexed vast territories to his possessions, entering ancient Babylon and Seleucia on the Tigris, where in 140 BC. crowned and assumed the title of king of Babylon and Uruk.
Mithridates established a new order of counting time: from the 1st day of the month of Nisan (April) 247 BC. the first year of the new Parthian era began. At the same time, the king ordered the removal of all treasures from the temples in Susa: the Parthians needed funds to replenish and equip the troops. To the northern borders of their possessions moved hordes of Sakas - nomadic peoples who from ancient times lived in the regions of Drangiana and Ara-khosia bordering on the Parthians, gradually strengthening themselves in the eastern Iranian and northwestern Indian lands. They were worthy opponents. The Parthians had to exert all their strength, to pay with the lives of their two kings - Phraates P and Artaban II, in order to defeat the enemies. This was succeeded by Mithridates II (124-87 BC), who at the same time annexed a number of new territories to his possessions and concluded an agreement with Rome on the division of spheres of influence. The Euphrates river became the border between the two world powers facing each other.
Fuendetodos – the birthplace of Francisco de Goya
Yesa reservoir and its touristic activities
Piedra monastery and its park with waterfalls
Sos del Rey Católico – a Historic-Artistic Site
Tarazona was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1965
Uncastillo – a Historic-Artistic complex
Parthia of the times of Mithridates II is a really powerful state. Far and near countries establish friendly relations with her or seek to enlist her support. Mithridates II begins to call himself the king of kings. So he was also called the ambassadors who arrived from China. The Han Emperor Wudi wanted to establish friendly relations with the Parthians, through whose possessions an important section of the Great Silk Road passed. The Parthians themselves were well aware of the benefits of controlling the roads along which trade caravans traveled from East to West and from West to East. They did not allow Roman traders here, stopping any attempt on their part to explore these routes and collect more information about the countries of the East.
Trade duties were one of the most important items of income for the state treasury. Some of the goods brought by caravans from different countries were sold at the bazaars in the major cities of Parthia. There one could buy Chinese silks, Indian cotton, embroideries from Babylon, precious stones, iron products of the masters of Syria and India, ebony, sandalwood, ivory, incense, healing ointments and powders, spices and other foreign goods. The most rare and precious items settled in the royal treasuries.
Albarracín and its architecture
Alcañiz – the capital of the Lower Aragon historical region
Cantavieja has been declared a historical-artistic site since 1981
Cretas and its parish Mannerist church
Linares de Mora and its castle
Mirambel and its historic center
Mora de Rubielos and its castle
Rubielos de Mora and its attractions
Teruel and its Mudejar heritage
Villarroya de los Pinares and its attractions
One of such treasuries of the Parthian kings was discovered by archaeologists in southern Turkmenistan near the small village of Bagir. It was located inside the Mihrdatkert fortress, later known as Old Nisa. The walls of the fortress were built of clay to a height of more than 10 m, reaching a thickness of 9 m at the base. They were reinforced with 43 rectangular towers, and the corner towers, which were of particular importance in the defense, were real bastions. Numerous loopholes in the shape of a swallow's tail cut through the thickness of the walls, giving the greatest view from the walls to the surroundings and protecting the defending warriors. In one of the corner towers there was an entrance to the fortress, to which a gradually rising ramp, parallel to the line of the wall, led.