Achmetha
Summary
The ancient capital of Media, known in Greek as Ecbatana, where the decree of Cyrus permitting the Jews to rebuild the temple was found.
☩Discovery of Cyrus's Decree
When the Jews began rebuilding the temple under Zerubbabel, their enemies challenged their authority to do so. King Darius ordered a search of the royal archives for the original decree of Cyrus. The document was eventually found not at Babylon but at Achmetha, in the citadel of the province of Media, where the Persian kings kept their summer residence and state records. The decree confirmed the Jews' right to rebuild and ordered that the work continue.
☩The City
Achmetha, known to Greek writers as Ecbatana, was the ancient capital of Media, located at modern Hamadan in Iran, about 160 miles southwest of Tehran at nearly 6,000 feet elevation. Founded or rebuilt around 700 BC, it served as the summer residence of Persian kings because of its cool climate. The city was famous for its magnificent citadel and royal palace. A Jewish community has existed there since ancient times, and a tomb reputed to be that of Mordecai and Esther is still maintained there by local Jews.
Related Verses1 mention
Ezra· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Achmetha," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Achmetha," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).