Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
signification of the name is not by any means clear. It possibly meant rustics, dwellers in open,
unwalled villages, which are denoted by a similar word.
Persepolis
mentioned only in 2 Macc. 9:2, was the capital of Persia proper, and the occasional residence
of the Persian court from the time of Darius Hystaspes, who seems to have been its founder, to the
invasion of Alexander. Its wanton destruction by that conqueror is well known. Its site is now called
the Chehl-Minar, or Forty Pillars. Here, on a platform hewn out of the solid rock the sides of which
face the four cardinal points, are the remains of two great palaces, built respectively by Darius
Hytaspes and his son Xerxes, besides a number of other edifices, chiefly temples. They are of great
extent and magnificence, covering an area of many acres.
Persia
(pure, splended), Per’sians. Persia proper was a tract of no very large dimensions on the Persian
Gulf, which is still known as Fars or Farsistan, a corruption of the ancient appellation. This tract
was bounded on the west by Susiana or Elam, on the north by Media on the south by the Persian
Gulf and on the east by Carmania. But the name is more commonly applied, both in Scripture and
by profane authors to the entire tract which came by degrees to be included within the limits of the
Persian empire. This empire extended at one time from India on the east to Egypt and Thrace on
the west, and included. besides portions of Europe and Africa, the whole of western Asia between
the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Caspian and the Jaxartes on the north, the Arabian desert the
Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean on the south. The only passage in Scripture where Persia
designates the tract which has been called above “Persia proper” is (Ezekiel 38:5) Elsewhere the
empire is intended. The Persians were of the same race as the Medes, both being branches of the
great Aryan stock.
•Character of the nation .—The Persians were a people of lively and impressible minds, brave and
impetuous in war, witty, passionate, for Orientals truthful, not without some spirit of generosity:
and of more intellectual capacity than the generality of Asiatics. In the times anterior to Cyrus
they were noted for the simplicity of their habits, which offered a strong contrast to the
luxuriousness of the Medes; but from the late of the Median overthrow this simplicity began to
decline. Polygamy was commonly practiced among them. They were fond of the pleasures of the
table. In war they fought bravely, but without discipline.
•Religion .—The religion which the Persians brought with there into Persia proper seems to have
been of a very simple character, differing from natural religion in little except that it was deeply
tainted with Dualism. Like the other Aryans, the Persians worshipped one supreme God. They
had few temples, and no altars or images.
•Language .—The Persian language was closely akin to the Sanskrit, or ancient language of India.
Modern Persian is its degenerate representative, being largely impregnated with Arabic.
•History .—The history of Persia begins with the revolt from the Medes and the accession of Cyrus
the Great, B.C. 558. Cyrus defeated Croesus, and added the Lydian empire to his dominions. This
conquest was followed closely by the submission of the Greek settlements on the Asiatic coast,
and by the reduction of Caria and Lycia The empire was soon afterward extended greatly toward
the northeast and east. In B.C. 539 or 538, Babylon was attacked, and after a stout defence fell
into the hands of Cyrus. This victory first brought the Persians into contact with the Jews. The
conquerors found in Babylon an oppressed race—like themselves, abhorrers of idols, and professors
of a religion in which to a great extent they could sympathize. This race Cyrus determined to
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William Smith