Sura (city): Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
maps show it as east not west of the Euphrates |
m →Location: clarification from original source |
||
| (21 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{other places}} |
|||
{{Infobox settlement |
{{Infobox settlement |
||
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> |
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> |
||
<!-- Basic info ----------------> |
<!-- Basic info ----------------> |
||
|official_name =Sura |
|official_name = Sura |
||
|other_name |
|other_name= |
||
|native_name = |
|native_name = {{lang|arc|סורא}} <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English --> |
||
|nickname = |
|||
|settlement_type = <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)--> |
|settlement_type = <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)--> |
||
|motto = |
|||
<!-- images and maps -----------> |
<!-- images and maps -----------> |
||
|image_skyline |
|image_skyline= |
||
|imagesize |
|imagesize= |
||
|image_caption |
|image_caption= |
||
|image_map= |
|||
|image_flag = |
|||
|mapsize= |
|||
|flag_size = |
|||
|map_caption= |
|||
|image_seal = |
|||
|pushpin_map = Iraq <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map --> |
|||
|seal_size = |
|||
|pushpin_label_position = bottom |
|||
|image_shield = |
|||
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in modern day Iraq<!-- Location ------------------> |
|||
|shield_size = |
|||
|image_blank_emblem = |
|||
|blank_emblem_type = |
|||
|blank_emblem_size = |
|||
|image_map = |
|||
|mapsize = |
|||
|map_caption = |
|||
|image_map1 = |
|||
|mapsize1 = |
|||
|map_caption1 = |
|||
|image_dot_map = |
|||
|dot_mapsize = |
|||
|dot_map_caption = |
|||
|dot_x = |dot_y = |
|||
|pushpin_map =Iraq <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map --> |
|||
|pushpin_label_position =bottom |
|||
|pushpin_map_caption =Location in modern day Iraq<!-- Location ------------------> |
|||
|subdivision_type = Country |
|subdivision_type = Country |
||
|subdivision_name = [[ |
|subdivision_name = [[File:Flag of Iraq.svg|25px]] [[Iraq]] |
||
|subdivision_type1 |
|subdivision_type1= |
||
|subdivision_name1 |
|subdivision_name1= |
||
|subdivision_type2 = |
|||
|subdivision_name2 = |
|||
|subdivision_type3 = |
|||
|subdivision_name3 = |
|||
|subdivision_type4 = |
|||
|subdivision_name4 = |
|||
<!-- Politics -----------------> |
<!-- Politics -----------------> |
||
|population_blank1_title = Ethnicities |
|||
|government_footnotes = |
|||
|population_blank1= |
|||
|government_type = |
|||
|population_blank2_title = Religions |
|||
|leader_title = |
|||
|leader_name = |
|||
|leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> |
|||
|leader_name1 = |
|||
|leader_title2 = |
|||
|leader_name2 = |
|||
|leader_title3 = |
|||
|leader_name3 = |
|||
|leader_title4 = |
|||
|leader_name4 = |
|||
|established_title = <!-- Settled --> |
|||
|established_date = |
|||
|established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) --> |
|||
|established_date2 = |
|||
|established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) --> |
|||
|established_date3 = |
|||
<!-- Area ---------------------> |
|||
|area_magnitude = |
|||
|unit_pref =Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired--> |
|||
|area_footnotes = |
|||
|area_total_km2 = |
|||
|area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion--> |
|||
|area_water_km2 = |
|||
|area_total_sq_mi = |
|||
|area_land_sq_mi = |
|||
|area_water_sq_mi = |
|||
|area_water_percent = |
|||
|area_urban_km2 = |
|||
|area_urban_sq_mi = |
|||
|area_metro_km2 = |
|||
|area_metro_sq_mi = |
|||
|area_blank1_title = |
|||
|area_blank1_km2 = |
|||
|area_blank1_sq_mi = |
|||
<!-- Population -----------------------> |
|||
|population_as_of = |
|||
|population_footnotes = |
|||
|population_note = |
|||
|population_total = |
|||
|population_density_km2 = |
|||
|population_density_sq_mi = |
|||
|population_metro = |
|||
|population_density_metro_km2 = |
|||
|population_density_metro_sq_mi = |
|||
|population_urban = |
|||
|population_density_urban_km2 = |
|||
|population_density_urban_sq_mi = |
|||
|population_blank1_title =Ethnicities |
|||
|population_blank1 = |
|||
|population_blank2_title =Religions |
|||
|population_blank2 = |
|||
|population_density_blank1_km2 = |
|||
|population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |
|||
<!-- General information ---------------> |
<!-- General information ---------------> |
||
|timezone |
|timezone= |
||
|utc_offset |
|utc_offset= |
||
|timezone_DST |
|timezone_DST= |
||
|utc_offset_DST |
|utc_offset_DST= |
||
|coordinates = {{coord|31|53|N|44|27|E|region:IQ|display=inline,title}} |
|coordinates = {{coord|31|53|N|44|27|E|region:IQ|display=inline,title}} |
||
|elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags--> |
|elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags--> |
||
|elevation_m |
|elevation_m= |
||
|elevation_ft |
|elevation_ft= <!-- accord. to Google Earth--> |
||
<!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> |
|||
|postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> |
|||
|postal_code = |
|||
|area_code = |
|||
|blank_name = |
|||
|blank_info = |
|||
|blank1_name = |
|||
|blank1_info = |
|||
|website = |
|||
|footnotes = |
|footnotes = |
||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Sura''' was a city in the southern part of ancient [[Talmudic Academies in Babylonia|Babylonia]], located east of the [[Euphrates |
'''Sura''' ({{lang-syr|ܫܘܪܐ}}) was a city in the southern part of the area called by ancient Jewish sources [[Talmudic Academies in Babylonia#Geographic area|'''Babylonia''']], located east of the [[Euphrates]]. It was well-known for its [[agriculture|agricultural]] produce, which included [[grape]]s, [[wheat]], and [[barley]]. It was also a major center of [[Torah]] scholarship and home of an important [[yeshiva]]—the '''[[Sura Academy]]'''—which, together with the yeshivas in [[Pumbedita]] and [[Nehardea]], gave rise to the [[Babylonian Talmud]]. |
||
== |
==Location== |
||
According to [[Sherira Gaon]], Sura ({{lang-arc|סורא}}) was identical to the town of [[Mata Mehasya]], which is also mentioned in the [[Talmud]], but Mata Mehasya is cited in the Talmud many times, either as a nearby town or a suburb of Sura,<ref>* {{daat enc|id1=1532|he-title=סורא}}</ref> and the Talmudist academy in Mata Mehasya served as a branch of Sura Academy, which was founded by [[Abba Arikha]] in the third century. |
|||
Sura was under Roman control in the time of [[Pliny the Elder]] (23-79 CE) and [[Ptolemy]] (c. 100-170 CE) but was conquered by the [[Sasanian]] king [[Shapur I]] in 253 CE. <ref>“Thapsacus and Zeugma the Crossing of the Euphrates in Antiquity.” Michal Gawlikowski. Iraq, Vol. 58 (1996), pp. 123-133.</ref> |
|||
A contemporary [[Syriac language|Syriac]] source describes it as a town completely inhabited by Jews, situated between [[al-Mada'in|Māḥōzē]] and [[al-Hirah]] in the [[Sawad]]. A responsum of [[Natronai ben Hilai]] says that Sura was about {{convert|6|km}} from Harta D'Argiz, understood to be al-Hirah.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gîl|first=Moše|title=Jews in Islamic Countries in the Middle Ages|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8vTTCwG0nKIC&pg=PA507|year=2004|publisher=BRILL|isbn=90-04-13882-X|page=507}}</ref> |
|||
<blockquote>It was a Roman garrison of some importance in the Persian campaigns of Belisarius; and a full account is given of the circumstances under which it was taken and burned by Chosroes I. (A.D. 532), who, having marched three long days’ journey from Circesium to Zenobia, along the course of the Euphrates, thence proceeded an equal distance up the river to Sura. Incidental mention of the bishop proves that it was then an episcopal see. (''Procop. Bell. Pers.'' i. 18, ii. 5.) Its walls were so weak that it did not hold out more than half an hour; but it was afterwards more substantially fortified, by order of the emperor Justinian. (Id. ''de Aedificiis Justiniani'', ii. 9.)"<ref>''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. Vol. II. Iabadius—Zymethus'' (1870). Edited by William Smith. London: Walton and Maberly; John Murray, London, p. 1048. {{PD-notice}}</ref></blockquote> |
|||
==History== |
|||
According to Rav [[Sherira Gaon]], Sura ([[Hebrew]]: '''סורא''') was identical to the town of Mata Mehasia ('''מתא מחסיא'''), which is also mentioned in the Talmud, but Matha-Mehasia is cited in the [[Talmud]] many times, either as a nearby town or a suburb of Sura,<ref>* {{daat enc|id1=1532|he-title= סורא}}</ref> and the Talmudist academy in Matha-Mehasia served as a branch of the Sura Academy. Sura Academy was founded by Rav ([[Abba Arika]]) in the third century. |
|||
===Byzantine–Sasanian wars=== |
|||
<blockquote>It was a [Byzantine] garrison of some importance in the Persian campaigns of [[Belisarius]]; and a full account is given of the circumstances under which it was taken and burned by [[Chosroes I]]. (A.D. 532), who, having marched three long days' journey from Circesium to Zenobia, along the course of the Euphrates, thence proceeded an equal distance up the river to Sura. Incidental mention of the bishop proves that it was then an episcopal see. (''Procop. Bell. Pers.'' i. 18, ii. 5.) Its walls were so weak that it did not hold out more than half an hour; but it was afterwards more substantially fortified, by order of the emperor Justinian. (Id. ''de Aedificiis Justiniani'', ii. 9.)"<ref>''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. Vol. II. Iabadius—Zymethus'' (1870). Edited by William Smith. London: Walton and Maberly; John Murray, London, p. 1048. {{PD-notice}}</ref></blockquote> |
|||
A [[Syriac language|Syriac]] source describes it as a town completely inhabited by Jews, situated between Māḥōzē (i.e. [[Al-Mada'in]]) and [[Al-Hira]] in southern Iraq. A responsum of Rabbi [[Natronai ben Hilai|Natronai Gaon]] says that Sura was about 6 km from Al-Hira.<ref>{{cite book | last = Gil | first = Moshe | authorlink = |author2=David Strassler | title = Jews in Islamic Countries in the Middle Ages | publisher = Brill | year = 2004 | location = | pages = 507 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8vTTCwG0nKIC&pg=PA507&dq=Sura+Matamasiyya | doi = | isbn = 978-90-04-13882-7 }}</ref> |
|||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
*[[ |
* [[History of the Jews in Iraq]] |
||
* [[Talmudic Academies in Babylonia]] |
|||
*[[Sura Academy]] |
|||
** Peroz-Shapur, now [[Anbar (town)]], a town adjacent or identical to Nehardea; academy of Pumbedita was moved to this town for half of the sixth century |
|||
*[[Fallujah]] |
|||
** Māḥōzē, modern-day [[al-Mada'in]]; the academy of Pumbedita was relocated to Māḥōzē during the time of the [[Rava (amora)|Amora Rava]] |
|||
*[[Pumbedita Academy]] |
|||
** [[Nehardea Academy]] (in [[Nehardea]]) |
|||
*[[Pumbedita]] (City) |
|||
** [[Pumbedita Academy]] (in [[Pumbedita]] for most of its history; near what is now [[Fallujah]]) |
|||
*[[Mahuza]] |
|||
** [[Pum-Nahara Academy]] |
|||
*[[Nehardea]] |
|||
*[[ |
** [[Sura Academy]] |
||
* [[Talmudic Academies in Syria Palaestina]] |
|||
*[[Firuz Shapur]] |
|||
*[[Talmudic Academies in the Land of Israel]] |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Revision as of 22:17, 6 March 2024
Sura
סורא | |
|---|---|
  Sura Location in modern day Iraq | |
| Coordinates: 31°53′N 44°27′E / 31.883°N 44.450°E | |
| Country |  Iraq |
Sura (Syriac: ܫܘܪܐ) was a city in the southern part of the area called by ancient Jewish sources Babylonia, located east of the Euphrates. It was well-known for its agricultural produce, which included grapes, wheat, and barley. It was also a major center of Torah scholarship and home of an important yeshiva—the Sura Academy—which, together with the yeshivas in Pumbedita and Nehardea, gave rise to the Babylonian Talmud.
Location
According to Sherira Gaon, Sura (Template:Lang-arc) was identical to the town of Mata Mehasya, which is also mentioned in the Talmud, but Mata Mehasya is cited in the Talmud many times, either as a nearby town or a suburb of Sura,[1] and the Talmudist academy in Mata Mehasya served as a branch of Sura Academy, which was founded by Abba Arikha in the third century.
A contemporary Syriac source describes it as a town completely inhabited by Jews, situated between Māḥōzē and al-Hirah in the Sawad. A responsum of Natronai ben Hilai says that Sura was about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from Harta D'Argiz, understood to be al-Hirah.[2]
History
Byzantine–Sasanian wars
It was a [Byzantine] garrison of some importance in the Persian campaigns of Belisarius; and a full account is given of the circumstances under which it was taken and burned by Chosroes I. (A.D. 532), who, having marched three long days' journey from Circesium to Zenobia, along the course of the Euphrates, thence proceeded an equal distance up the river to Sura. Incidental mention of the bishop proves that it was then an episcopal see. (Procop. Bell. Pers. i. 18, ii. 5.) Its walls were so weak that it did not hold out more than half an hour; but it was afterwards more substantially fortified, by order of the emperor Justinian. (Id. de Aedificiis Justiniani, ii. 9.)"[3]
See also
- History of the Jews in Iraq
- Talmudic Academies in Babylonia
- Peroz-Shapur, now Anbar (town), a town adjacent or identical to Nehardea; academy of Pumbedita was moved to this town for half of the sixth century
- Māḥōzē, modern-day al-Mada'in; the academy of Pumbedita was relocated to Māḥōzē during the time of the Amora Rava
- Nehardea Academy (in Nehardea)
- Pumbedita Academy (in Pumbedita for most of its history; near what is now Fallujah)
- Pum-Nahara Academy
- Sura Academy
- Talmudic Academies in Syria Palaestina
References
- ^ * סורא. Jewish Encyclopedia Daat (in Hebrew). Herzog College.
- ^ Gîl, Moše (2004). Jews in Islamic Countries in the Middle Ages. BRILL. p. 507. ISBN 90-04-13882-X.
- ^ Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. Vol. II. Iabadius—Zymethus (1870). Edited by William Smith. London: Walton and Maberly; John Murray, London, p. 1048.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
