In a recent gathering, someone was wearing a drachma pendant…

According to Secretary of Pontifical Biblical Commission Vigouroux in his 1895 publication "Dict. de la Bible," the term “drachma” is derived from “daraq-mana,” the name of a Persian coin (Achaemenid Persian Empire 550-330 BCE) equivalent to the Hebrew “drkmwn”… “Daric” was another word for the darag-mana because it was first struck by the Persian emperor Darius the Great.

Univ of Oxford prof H. G. M. Williamson notes in his book “Studies in Persian Period History and Historiography” (2004) that ancient Greek writers knew “dareikos” derived from the name of Persian king Darius.

In “The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia” (1979), Geoffrey W. Bromiley defines “DARIC dar'ik [Heb. darkftnon, 'adarkon; Gk. dareikos]; AV DRAM; NEB also DRACHMA. A Persian gold coin, the first to be mentioned in the Bible.” 

[pic source:  Capstone Acquisitions … for educational purposes only]

According to Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment (2001), “mysticism” based on ancient Iranian Zoroastrianism philosophy and religion (struggle of Light vs. Darkness) was so widespread during the Scientific and Enlightenment Ages that by 1699, under pressures from French king Louis XIV, Pope Innocent XII was forced to take action so that mystics were either silenced or put under extreme censorship.

[pic source copyright Getty images @Bettman:  Zoroaster. Zor-Aster, or the Egyptian sacred Bull. Engraving, 1776.]

Ran across a telling statement by the BBC given how Mainstream Media such as the BBC, textbooks, and museums egregiously and unethically misrepresent and mislabel IRANIAN achievements as “Islamic” such as “Islamic Arts, Islamic Sciences, Islamic Architecture, Islamic Geometric Shapes, Islamic World, etc.”… yet, when it comes to “Islamic Slavery,” the BBC as part of the Mainstream Media makes the following claim in a 2009 article regarding the topic:

“Many societies throughout history have practiced slavery, and Muslim societies were no exception....

It's misleading to use phrases such as 'Islamic slavery' and 'Muslim slave trade', even though slavery existed in many Muslim cultures at various times, since the Atlantic slave trade is not called the Christian slave trade, even though most of those responsible for it were Christians.”

…apparently when it comes to positive and world-changing contributions such as medical advancements or the arts, it is quite okay for the Establishment to “mislead” the public by falsely labeling such achievements as “Islamic,” but when it comes to a horrible human institutional setup such as slavery, one may not call it part of Islamic philosophy or way of life…

…one may appreciate the ancient Iranian kings asking their native Zoroastrian Wise Lord (Ahura Mazda) to keep people and the nation safe from LIES…

[pic source livius:  Darius the Great’s royal inscription (DPd) dated to 6^th c. BCE … “King Darius says: May Ahuramazda and the gods of the royal house come to my aid. May Ahuramazda protect this country from invaders, from famine, and from the Lie! May there never be upon this country an army, famine, or the Lie! This I pray as a favor from Ahuramazda and the gods of the royal house. May Ahuramazda and the gods of the royal house do me this favor!”… for educational purposes only]

"Atossa queen of Persia, is said to be the first who taught the art of writing epistles.”

~ from English actress, author, and mistress of King George IV while he was the crown prince Mary Robinson's 1799 book “A Letter to the Women of England” published under pseudonym A. F. Randall…

[pic source High Class @ Paraguay…for educational purposes only]