Ancient city, Media. It was formerly one of the great cities of Iran; its ruins are at modern Rey, near Tehrān. Settlement there dates from the 3rd millennium &BC;. Under the Sāsānian dynasty (3rd–7th century &AD;), it was a centre of Zoroastrianism.
Captured by the Muslims in &AD; 641, it grew in importance until the 12th century, when it was weakened by religious conflicts. In 1220 it was destroyed by the Mongols, and its inhabitants were massacred. It was famous for its decorated silks and for ceramics. The &ayn;Abbāsid caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd, memorialized in The Thousand and One Nights, was born there &circa; 765. The only remaining architectural features are two towers.
This is the complete article, containing 112 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
View More Summaries on Ray, Iran
