Shmuel of Nehardea שמואל ירחינאה
Amora, head of Nehardea, physician and astronomer, author of «dina de-malkhuta dina»
Shmuel headed the ancient academy of Nehardea while Rav founded Sura. Their dispute — «Rav and Shmuel» — runs through the whole Talmud, and the rule is: in matters of the permitted and forbidden the law follows Rav, in monetary matters Shmuel.
He was a physician, treating among others Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, and an astronomer who said «the paths of heaven are as clear to me as the streets of Nehardea» — though he admitted he did not understand comets.
His decisive formula is «dina de-malkhuta dina»: the law of the kingdom is law. From it grew the whole legal life of Jews in exile — taxes, contracts and property recognised under the law of the host state. It was not surrender but a frame that let a community live inside a foreign kingdom without dissolving into it.
He was close to the Persian king Shapur I. After Nehardea was destroyed its learning moved to Pumbedita.