Parthia

Ancient country in western Asia in what is now northeastern Iran, capital Ctesiphon. Parthian ascendancy began with the Arsacid dynasty in 248 BC, and reached the peak of its power under Mithridates I in the 2nd century BC; the region was annexed to Persia under the Sassanians AD 226.

Parthian horse riders feigned retreat and shot their arrows unexpectedly backwards, hence the use of ‘Parthian shot’ to mean a remark delivered in parting. Parthian administration was influenced by the Seleucid empire in Syria and later they successfully resisted the Romans.

Parthia

In music, a variant spelling of the German Partie for suite, used by Haydn and Beethoven among others. See also partita.