Editing Geonim (section)

== Era ==
The period of the Geonim began in 589 CE ([[Hebrew calendar|Hebrew date]]: 4349), after the period of the [[Savoraim|Sevora'im]], and ended in 1038<ref name=EB1911>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Gaon |volume=11 |page=455 |first=Israel |last=Abrahams}}</ref> (Hebrew date: 4798). The first gaon of Sura, according to [[Sherira Gaon]], was [[Mar Rab Mar]], who assumed office in 689. The last gaon of Sura was [[Samuel ben Ḥofni]], who died in 1034 CE; the last gaon of Pumbedita was [[Hezekiah Gaon]], who was tortured to death by zealots of the [[Buyid dynasty]] in 1040; hence the activity of the Geonim covers a period of nearly 450 years.

There were two major Geonic academies, one in Sura and the other in Pumbedita. The [[Sura Academy]] was originally dominant, but its authority waned towards the end of the Geonic period and the Pumbedita Gaonate gained ascendancy ([[Louis Ginzberg]] in ''Geonica'').