person · P0253

Rav Chama רב חמא

Head of Pumbedita for two decades after Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak — the Rav Chama of Nehardea before whom, in the Iggeret's own talmudic illustration, the case of the judge who ruled like Rabbi Elazar was brought.

I. Who

Hebrew
רב חמא
Era
amoraim

II. When

Traditional
d. 4137 AM (Seleucid 688, per the Iggeret)
Academic
d. 377 CE
Lifespan (traditional)
≈70 years
Precision
approximate

III. Where

Places
Pumbedita

V. How do we know

ClaimEvidenceConfidenceSources
"After Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak several heads reigned at Pumbedita: Rav Chama reigned and died in the Seleucid year 688" (377 CE) — the Iggeret identifying him with the Rav Chama of the sugya in Shevuot. tradition ★★★★☆
No source names his teacher. Per this atlas's succession roster, Abaye and Rava held the headship of his academy during his formative window (c. 4082–4102 AM), making reception from them the likeliest reconstruction.
Derived by era-and-institution inference, not attested. The formative window is computed from this entry's schematic dates, hence the low confidence. A talmudic attestation, if one can be verified, should supersede this.
reconstruction ★☆☆☆☆