Rages [key], ancient and medieval city of Persia, located on the site of modern-day Ray, N Iran, a suburb of Tehran. Rages is mentioned in the Avesta and in the inscriptions at Behistun. Because it controlled the NE Persian trade route, it was occupied by the Parthians and the Arabs. It flourished under the Seljuk Turks. Fierce religious conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims resulted in the destruction of much of the city in 1186; further damage was done by the Mongols in 1220, and by 1400 the city was deserted. There are ruins of walls and towers at the site. The city was the scene of some of the principal events in the Old Testament book of Tobit.
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