Bible Dictionaries
Parthians

Holman Bible Dictionary

(pahr' thih uhnss) Tribal people who migrated from Central Asia into what is now Iran. Their homeland was an area southeast of the Caspian Sea. They spoke an Aryan dialect very close to Persian and worshiped the Persian god, Ahura Mazda. The Parthians adopted Greek culture following their fall to Alexander the Great. About 250 B.C. they revolted against the Seleucid rule and reached a height of power under King Mithradates (ruled 171-138 B.C.). In 53 B.C. the Romans invaded but were defeated on several occasions. They did not gain control of Parthia until A.D. 114. Some Parthians were among those in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost who heard the gospel in their own language (Acts 2:9-11 ).