"The Parthian Shot"






There, before me on a small table in the open-air "flo-mart" in Frankfurt, Germany, lay six small silver coins. The back drop of Franfurt's 'Main' river now diminished in its focus as I stared intensley on the small and seemingly very ancient silver medians of exchange still trying desperately to speak of their former glory.

"From where are these coins?" I asked the Arab-looking gentleman in my best German. The perplexed expression coming from his face displayed a look of obvious bewilderment at my query. So at this he turned to the young man standing next to him for assistance in a lanuage just as perplexing to me and obviously "babbled" beyond my western mind's reach...of recognition. "Where are these coins from?" I now asked the younger man in English. He replied with only one word, "Parthia".

So seeing that he spoke English, or at least at this point showing that he understood it, I continued in English. "Where is Parthia and how old are these coins?" I then asked. To which he replied, "Persia, Persia...now Iran and the coins...over two thousand years old and on each is (a depiction) a former king -- all of them." I purchased the coins, as they were not too terribly expensive, quickly stuck them in my pocket, thanked him, and left.



Well as with all things that have entered my life big and small, and in this case six small coins, I set out to learn more about them. So I ordered a book.

'Parthian Coins & History -- Ten Dragons Against Rome' by Fred B. Shore, not only had depictions of Parthian coins but also spoke of the history of the Parthian Empire and its many decisive battles against Rome. In the introduction to his book, Shore makes the following observation:

"Casual readers and historians alike have always had a special fascination with the exploits of the great enemies of Rome: Hannibal, Mithradates VI of Pontos, Jugurtha, Zanobia, and others. But the kingdom of Parthia was the only civilized nation to stand up to the Roman Legions at the peak of their empire and, as often as not, emerge victorious. At the height of Roman power all peoples knew that Rome, although the most powerful nation on earth, did not control the entire civilized world. Parthia was always a reminder to the Romans that other civilized peoples existed beyond the control and whim of the emperors of Rome." (8)

Now please think over that last statement...along with 'Revelation', Chapter 17...as we ponder the next question; Why is virtually nothing mentioned about Perthia in modern day (secular history) texts? But did you know that our Bible speaks of her..."Parthians"?


"And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another,
Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites,
and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea,
and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia,
and Pamphlia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya
about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome,
Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians,

we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

(Acts of the Apostles 2:7-11)




Now, Parthian warriors, according to Shore, had a peculiar but very devastating technique that they used when their bow men rode into battle on horseback:

"After an intial charge of the heavy cavalry led by the Suren, the Parthians used their preferred tactics of riding around the enemy, avoiding direct contact, and plying them with arrows... As Crassus' allies who supplied cavalry deserted just as the battle was joined, he was dangerously short of horsemen. When he saw that the Parthian supply of arrows did not seem to end, he sent his son Publius with what cavalry he had plus archers and other support troops, about 6,000 in all, to attack the Parthians and force them to a direct fight. The Parthians retreated, at the same time firing arrows at the Romans in the famed 'Parthian Shot'". (26)

Oh, how I wish my coins could speak...or even if I could just interpret that which is written upon them. But there's something more important than the speaking or translation of language that I wish to have -- even that of the native "tongue" of ancient Parthia. Yes, more important than learning 'what in the world' is written on the six small silver coins that the Lord has so graciously provided me temporary stewardship of...Even more important than "signs and wonders"...Is something that the Apostle Paul wrote centuries ago to the Church at Colossae -- something that remains ever present in my heart:


"To whom God would make known what is the riches
of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."