Parthia
a celebrated country of ancient Asia, called by the Greeks Parthyœa and Parthyene, which was bounded N. by Hyrcania, S. by Carmania Deserta, E. by Asia, and W. by Media.
Parthia was a wild and mountainous country of great extent, having 25 large cities. When Parthia became a power- PARTICIPLE ful state, the empire of Parthia was W. of the city of that name. It is in made up of conquered kingdoms, extending from the Caucasus in the N. to the Erythræan Sea in the S., and from the Indus in the E. to the Tigris in the W.
The Parthians, originally an offshoot from the Scythians, were noted for their love of war and martial glory; they were the most celebrated horsemen in the world, and excellent marksmen with the bow and arrow. The Parthians became subject to Persia; and their country, with Sogdiana and some other states, was formed into a province called a satrapy. When Alexander conquered Persia, he united Parthia and Hyrcania into one satrapy. After the dissolution of the Greek empire, the country became subject to Eumenes; next, to Antigones PARTRIDGE a corn and fruit producing region and there are also important industries, including the manufacture of wine, linen and woolen goods. Pop. about 25,000.