 The first Babylonian "Amoraim" were Abba Arika, respectfully referred to as "Rav", and his contemporary and frequent debate partner, Shmuel.Among the earliest "Amoraim" in Israel were Johanan bar Nappaha and Shimon ben Lakish.Traditionally, the Amoraic period is reckoned as seven or eight generations (depending on where one begins and ends).