RAGES. — In the Book of Tobit (4:21; 5:14; 9:3) mention is made of R., a city of the Medes, where Gabelus (v.) resided. The Greek text has ‘Ράγιοι ο ‘Ράγιοι’ (Όρθροι in Judg. 1:4), which is closer to the Persian Ragà, identified with Rajà about 13 km. southeast of present-day Tehran.
In the critical note on the Codex Sinaiticus (5:6) it is stated that it was two days’ journey from Ecbatana and that it stood on the mountains (cf. 5:8 of the Vulgate).
Those who accept the identification referred to and do not wish to accuse the author of geographical ignorance suppose that the duration of the journey is related to the angelic character of the speaker, not bound by human slowness. Between the two places a journey of about a week is reckoned, if one is to follow the custom of the ancients, who knew no swifter means than an ordinary mount. It is possible, moreover, that the statement is due to an error introduced in the manuscript tradition despite the great authority attributed to the Codex Sinaiticus. R. is also mentioned in the Avesta and in ancient historical and geographical writers. It was destroyed in 462 by the Arabs and later by an earthquake in 853.