place · L0200
Sura סורא
Town on the Euphrates in southern Babylonia where Rav settled and founded the academy that carried the Oral Torah for nearly eight centuries, from the amoraim through the geonim. The adjacent town Mata Mechasya was Rav Ashi's seat. The coordinates are approximate — the exact site has not been securely identified archaeologically.
I. Who
- Hebrew
- סורא
- Also known as
- Mata Mechasya (adjacent town), Sora
III. Where
- Modern location
- Near tell sites south of al-Hilla, southern Iraq (exact site debated)
V. How do we know
| Claim | Evidence | Confidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rav deliberately settled at Sura, "a place where there was no Torah," and fixed a court there, so that Bavel had two great courts — one at Nehardea and one at Sura. | tradition | ★★★★☆ | |
| Sura lay on the Euphrates in southern Babylonia; its precise location is a modern reconstruction from geonic and Arabic geographical notices, not an excavated identification.
Coordinates approximate. |
external reconstruction | ★★★☆☆ |
Referenced by: Rav, Rav Huna, Rav Chisda, Rav Ashi, Ravina II, Yehudai Gaon, Amram Gaon, Saadia Gaon, Rav Yeimar, Rav Idi bar Avin, Rav Nachman bar Rav Huna, Mar bar Rav Ashi, Rabbah Tosfa'ah, Rav Eina, Rav Hilai bar Mari, Rav Kohen Tzedek bar Ivumi, Rav Sar Shalom bar Boaz, Rav Natronai bar Hilai, Rav Nachshon bar Tzadok, Rav Tzemach bar Chaim, Rav Hai bar Nachshon, Rav Hilai bar Natronai, Rav Yaakov bar Natronai, Rav Yosef bar Yaakov, Mar bar Rav Huna (of Sura), Rav Huna of Mata Mechasya, Rav Sheshna, Rav Hanina of Nehar Pakod, Rav Nehilai HaLevi of Naresh, Rav Yaakov HaKohen of Nehar Pakod, Rav Shmuel (of Sura), Rav Mari HaKohen of Nehar Pakod, Rav Acha (of Sura), Rav Ahunai Kahana bar Papa, Rav Chanina Kahana bar Huna, Rav Mari HaLevi bar Mesharshiya, Rav Bivai HaLevi bar Abba, Rav Yaakov HaKohen bar Mordechai, Rav Avimi (of Sura), Rav Tzadok bar Ashi, Rav Hilai bar Chananya, Rav Kimoi bar Ashi, Rav Moshe Kahana bar Yaakov, Rav Malka (of Sura), Rav Shalom bar Mishael, Rav Yom Tov Kahana bar Yaakov, Rav Chanina (of Sura), Academy of Sura, Savoraim