Abba Arikha
Jewish Babylonian scholar (175–247)
Rav Abba bar Aybo (Aramaic: רַב אַבָּא בַּר אִיבּוֹ; 175–247 CE), commonly known as Abba Arikha (אַבָּא אריכא) or simply as Rav (רַב), was a Jewish amora of the 3rd century. He was born and lived in Kafri, Asoristan, in the Sasanian Empire.
In Sura, Arikha established the systematic study of the rabbinic traditions, which, using the Mishnah as a foundational text, led to the compilation of the Talmud. With him began the long period of ascendancy of the prestigious Talmudic academies in Babylonia around the year 220. In the Talmud, he is frequently associated with Samuel of Nehardea, a fellow amora with whom he debated many issues.
Biography
His surname, Arikha (English: the Tall), he owed to his height, which exceeded that of his contemporaries. Others, reading Arekha, consider it an honorary title, like "Lecturer". In the traditional literature, he is referred to almost exclusively as Rav, "the Master" (both by contemporaries and latter generations), just as his teacher, Judah ha-Nasi, was known simply as Rabbi. He is called Rabbi Abba only in the tannaitic literature, wherein a number of his sayings are preserved. He occupies a middle position between the Tannaim and the Amoraim and is accorded the right—rarely conceded to one who is only an amora—of disputing the opinion of a tanna.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Abba Arikha” is jewish Babylonian scholar (175–247). The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Abba, Arikha and Jewish, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “jewish Babylonian scholar (175–247)” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated May 18, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q305760. VIAF identifies the subject as 98135311. The Library of Congress control number is n84214393. 2 of 4 selected statements include explicit references; 1 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
The absence of detail may reflect summary conventions rather than a lack of surviving documentation. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Abba Arikha”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Abba Arikha primary sources, Abba Arikha archive and Abba research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Abba Arikha”?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Abba Arikha” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.