1st century C.E. founded a semi-autonomous state on the Euphrates, under the Parthian government, and caused much trouble to the Babylonian Jews because of their marauder-like escapades. After the destruction of Jerusalem, Nehardea is first mentioned in connection with Rabbi Akiva's sojourn there. From the post-Hadrianic tannaitic period there is the anecdote referring to the debt which Aḥai ben Josiah had to collect at Nehardea. Amoraic period Nehardea emerges clearly into the light of history at the end of the tannaitic period. Rav Shela's school was then prominent, and served to pave the way for the activity of the Babylonian academies. Samuel of Nehardea (whose father, Abba ben Abba, was an authority in Nehardea) established the reputation of its academy, while Rav, who likewise taught there for a time, made Sura (situated on the Euphrates about twenty parasangs from Nehardea) the seat of an academy destined to achieve a still greater reputation. The history of Nehardea is summed up in that of Samuel's activity. Soon after Samuel's death, Nehardea was destroyed by Papa ben Neser (either another name for Odenathus, or one of his generals) in 259 CE, and its place as seat of the second academy was taken by Pumbedita. Nehardea, however, soon regained its importance, for the eminent Rav Nachman dwelt there. There are several references to his activity. Rava tells of a walk which he took with Nachman through the "Shoemaker street," or, according to another version, through the "Scholars' street". Certain gates of Nehardea, which even in the time of Samuel were so far covered with earth that they could not be closed, were uncovered by Nachman. Two teachings in which Nachman designates Nehardea as "Babel" have been handed down. Sheshet also dwelt there temporarily. According to a teaching dating from the 4th century, an amora heard in Nehardea certain tannaitic teachings which had until then been unknown to scholars. Nehardea always remained the residence of a certain number of learned men, some of whom belonged to the school of Mahuza, which was of considerable prominence at that time, and some to that of Pumbedita. About the middle of the 4th century the famous scholar Ḥama was living at Nehardea; the maxim "By the 'amoraim of Nehardea' Ḥama is meant" became a canon in the Babylonian schools. Toward the end of the 4th and at the beginning of the 5th century Nehardea again became a center