RAGES rä’ gəs (̔Ράγοι; ̔Ράγαια; ̔Ράγαί, Old Pers. Rägâ). A strategic road-center and strongly fortified city in NE Media of the Pers. empire.

Generally identified with the modern ruins of Ray (Rai, Rhay, Rhey), Rages was located c. five m. SE of modern Teheran. It was located just S of the high mountain range of Alborz bordering the Caspian Sea and controlled the Caspian Gates. It was eleven days’ journey from Ecbatana. It was one of the oldest centers of civilization in Iran. Because of its location the city played an important part in the wars of Media and of Alexander the Great and his successors.

Rages is mentioned seven times in Tobit (1:14; 4:1, 20; 5:5; 6:9, 12; 9:2), generally called “Rages of Media.” The “Ragau” mentioned in Judith was a territory (1:5, 15).

Tobit had left ten talents of silver at Rages (1:14; 4:1). His son Tobias, accompanied by the angel Raphael, started for Rages in quest of the money; it was finally recovered by the angel (5:5; 6:9; 9:2).

Bibliography A. V. Jackson, “A Historical Sketch of Ragha, the Supposed Home of Zoroaster’s Mother,” Spiegel Memorial Volume (1908), 237-245; University of Pennsylvania Bulletin, V, no. 5 (1935), 41-49; VI, no. 3 (1936), 79-87; no. 4, 133-136 for the excavations during 1934-1935; A. T. Olmstead, History of the Persian Empire (1948), 30, 111, 114, 115.