Thursday, 06 January 2011

Aria (satrapy)

Aria (}}/Ar(e)ia, Latin Aria, representing Old Persian. Haraiva, Avestan Haraeuua), inhabitants: Arians (Latin: Arii, Greek: Ἄρ(ε)ιοι/Ar(e)ioi), name of a region in the eastern part of the Persian empire, several times confused with Arianē in the classical sources.

Geography

Aria was an Old Persian satrapy, which enclosed chiefly the valley of the Hari River (Greek , this being eponymous to the whole land according to Arrian) and which in antiquity was considered as particularly fertile and, above all, rich in wine. The region of Aria was separated by mountain ranges from the Paropamisadae in the east, Parthia in the west and Margiana and Hyrcania in the north, while a desert separated it from Carmania and Drangiana in the south. It is described in a very detailed manner by Ptolemy and Strabo and corresponds, according to that, almost to the Herat Province of today's Afghanistan. In this sense the term is used correctly by some writers, e.g. Herodotus (3.93.3, where the Areioi are mentioned together with the Parthians, Chorasmians, and Sogdians); Diodorus (17.105.7; 18.39.6); Strabo (2.1.14; 11.10.1, cf. also 11.8.1 and 8; 15.2.8 and 9); Arrian (Anabasis 3.25.1); Pomponius Mela (1.12, where we read that “nearest to India is Ariane, then Aria”).

Its original capital was Artacoana () or Articaudna () according to Ptolemy. In its vicinity, a new capital was built, either by Alexander the Great himself or by his successors, Alexandria Ariana (), modern Herat in northwest Afghanistan. Ptolemy lists several other cities, an indication of the province's wealth and fertility. The most important, according to Ptolemy and Arrian were:

{| border="0" cellspacing="10" |- valign="top" | width="20٪"|

Dista

Nabaris

Taua

Augara

Bitaxa

Sarmagana

| width="20٪"|

Sipharê

Rhagaura

Zamuchana

Ambrodax

Bogadia

Varpna

| width="20٪"|

Godana

Phoraga

Chatrisachê

Chauvrina

Orthiana

Taupana

| width="20٪"|

Astanda

Articaudna

Alexandria in Aria

Babarsana

Caputana

Susia

| width="20٪"|

Aria civitas

Basica

Sotira

Orbetanê

Nisibis

Paracanacê

| width="20٪"|

Gariga

Darcama

Cotacê

Tribasina

Astasana

Zimyra

History

The Persian Achaemenid district of Aria is mentioned in the provincial lists that are included in various royal inscriptions, for instance, in the Behistun inscription of Darius I (ca. 520 BC). Representatives from the district are depicted in reliefs, e.g., at the royal Achaemenid tombs of Naqsh-e Rustam and Persepolis. They are wearing Scythian-style dress (with a tunic and trousers tucked into high boots) and a twisted turban around the head.

At the time of Alexander the Great, Aria was obviously an important district. It was administered by a satrap, called Satibarzanes, who was one of the three main Persian officials in the East of the Empire, together with the satrap Bessus of Bactria and Barsaentes of Arachosia. In late 330 BC Alexander the Great, captured the Arian capital Artacoana. The province was part of the Seleucid Empire but was captured by others on various occasions and became part of the Parthian Empire in 167 BC. Aria later on became a province of the Sassanid Empire.

References

Category:Pre Islamic history of Afghanistan Category:Provinces of the Sassanid Empire Category:Achaemenid satrapies

This text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.

Email this Page

BBC - In the footsteps of Alexander (Afghanistan) 17

Order: Reorder
Duration: 7:24
Published: 2007-08-16
Uploaded: 2010-12-07
Author: alexandros1821

In the footsteps of Alexander the Great Alexander then set off in pursuit of Darius again, first into Media, and then Parthia.[94] The Persian king was no longer in control of his destiny, having been taken prisoner by Bessus, his Bactrian satrap and kinsman.[95] As Alexander approached, Bessus had his men fatally stab the Great King and then declared himself Darius' successor as Artaxerxes V, before retreating into Central Asia to launch a guerrilla campaign against Alexander.[96] Darius' remains were buried by Alexander next to his Achaemenid predecessors in a full regal funeral.[97] Alexander claimed that, while dying, Darius had named him as his successor to the Achaemenid throne.[98] The Achaemenid Empire is normally considered to have fallen with the death of Darius. Alexander, now considering himself the legitimate successor to Darius, viewed Bessus as a usurper to the Achaemenid throne, and set out to defeat him. This campaign, initially against Bessus, turned into a grand tour of central Asia, with Alexander founding a series of new cities, all called Alexandria, including modern Kandahar in Afghanistan, and Alexandria Eschate ("The Furthest") in modern Tajikistan. The campaign took Alexander through Media, Parthia, Aria (West Afghanistan), Drangiana, Arachosia (South and Central Afghanistan), Bactria (North and Central Afghanistan), and Scythia. During this time, Alexander took the Persian title "King of Kings" (Shahanshah) and adopted some elements of Persian ...

BBC - In the footsteps of Alexander (Kabul) 16

Order: Reorder
Duration: 6:56
Published: 2007-08-02
Uploaded: 2010-12-03
Author: alexandros1821

BBC - In the footsteps of Alexander (Samarkand) 18

Order: Reorder
Duration: 7:21
Published: 2007-08-02
Uploaded: 2010-12-06
Author: alexandros1821

In thefootsteps of Alexander the Great In this award winning adventure Micheal Wood embarks on a 2000 mile journey in the foot steps of Alexander's triumphal march from Greece to India. Travelling with Lebanese traders, Iranian pilgrims and Afghan guerillas, by jeep, train, boat, camel and on foot, he interweaves the momentous events of the past with present day reality and brings us new insights into a man whose myth and acheivements still resonate down the centuries. "We saw things I can scarcely believe. We took shelter for the night with an Afghan warlord who had delivered pizzas in the United States, and were hauled off to jail more than once. It was one of the great experiences of my life" - Michael Wood lexander then set off in pursuit of Darius again, first into Media, and then Parthia.[94] The Persian king was no longer in control of his destiny, having been taken prisoner by Bessus, his Bactrian satrap and kinsman.[95] As Alexander approached, Bessus had his men fatally stab the Great King and then declared himself Darius' successor as Artaxerxes V, before retreating into Central Asia to launch a guerrilla campaign against Alexander.[96] Darius' remains were buried by Alexander next to his Achaemenid predecessors in a full regal funeral.[97] Alexander claimed that, while dying, Darius had named him as his successor to the Achaemenid throne.[98] The Achaemenid Empire is normally considered to have fallen with the death of Darius.[99] Silver coin of Alexander ...

Beautiful Pakistan - Land of the Beautiful

Order: Reorder
Duration: 6:41
Published: 2010-06-28
Uploaded: 2010-10-27
Author: 80afridi

This is a video about Pakistan with the Pashto song ''Stargo Bala Wakhlom'' remix in the background. Pakistan is such a diverse country with incredible potential and many things about the country are unknown to the outside world and even to native Pakistani's themselves. Often times, the news media doesnt show this aspect of my country. The country has progressed considerably since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. Starting off at a literacy rate of just 6% and barely any infrastructure and only one industrial unit, the country has made considerable progress in the last 60 years. Much more work needs to be and will be done. Despite being in a hostile environment , surrounded by a hostile neighboors and been threatened by countries many times larger, the country remains resilient and vigilant. The country squared off and beat back then super power USSR in the west and brought about its demise. It has fought countless wars against india in the east, a country whose population is over a billion people and continually provokes it, yet Pakistan continues to stand its ground and grows stronger. Later, terrorists and militants in connivance and support of our neighboors like india have tried and failed in their attempts to get innocent Pakistani civilians to submit to their world vision of intolerance and demands through their acts of violence and terror. The Pakistani people, the Pakistani army and the international community refuse to give in to such tyranny. Pakistan ...