person · P0287

Rav Hilai bar Natronai רב הילאי בר נטרונאי

Gaon of Sura for eight years, son of Natronai Gaon — the fourth generation of the Hilai–Natronai house to hold Sura's seat as the academy entered its final decline.

I. Who

Hebrew
רב הילאי בר נטרונאי
Era
geonim
Parents
Rav Natronai bar Hilai

II. When

Traditional
gaon of Sura c. 4656–4664 AM
Academic
gaon c. 896–904 CE
Lifespan (traditional)
≈64 years
Precision
approximate

III. Where

Places
Sura

V. How do we know

ClaimEvidenceConfidenceSources
"After him Mar Rav Hilai bar Rav Natronai the gaon, eight years" — placed c. 896–904 CE in the standard rosters.
The Iggeret gives tenure lengths without absolute anchors for Sura's geonim; CE anchoring follows the Sura Academy roster.
tradition external ★★★☆☆
No source names his teacher; his father Rav Natronai bar Hilai — himself a head of the academy per the Iggeret — stood at the head of his formation, and Amram Gaon held the chair through his formative window (c. 4615–4635 AM). Kinship the Iggeret states; reception it does not — recorded as inference one remove from attestation.
Derived by era-and-institution (and household) inference, not attested.
reconstruction ★★☆☆☆