Ray, Iran
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Image:Borj-toghrul.jpgImage:Bibishahrbanu.jpgImage:Rayy citadel.jpgRay, also spelled Rey, Rayy, Rhages or Rages (ری in Persian; Rhagae in Greek) is the most historic city in the province of Tehran, Iran. Most notably, it is the birthplace of Rhazes.
The city is estimated to be more than two thousand years old, and was built during the Median Empire. It was known in Classical times as Rhagae. It is mentioned several times in the Bible (Judith 1:5, 15; Tobit 1:14, 5:5, 6:10).
After the Mongol conquest the town was severely damaged and it gradually lost its importance in the presence of nearby Tehran.
Ray contains a famous shrine of a Shia saint Shah Abdol Azim, as well as a 13th century tower called Borj e Toghrol.
There is also a shrine there, dedicated to commemorate Princess Shahr Banu, eldest daughter of the last ruler of the Sassanid Empire. She gave birth to Ali Zayn al Abidin, the fourth holy Imam of the Shia faith. This was through her marriage to Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. A nearby mountain is also named after her. However, some sources attribute the shrine to the goddess of water and fertility, Anahita, claiming it was renamed in Islamic times to protect it from any possible harm after the conversion of Iranians to Islam.