Ganzak

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Ganzak in the map of Atropatene

Ganzak (Greek: Gazaca, Latin: Gaza, Ganzaga, Arabic: Janza, Jaznaq), is an ancient Achaemenid town founded in northwestern Iran. Its name is originally Median but later adopted into Persian (Old, and then New Persian). The city stood somewhere south of Lake Urmia and Atropates "presumably" chose the city as his capital.[1]

The exact location, according to Minorsky, Schippmann, and Boyce, is identified as being near Laylān in the Miandoab plain.[1][2] The now-defunct identification of Ganzak with Takht-e Soleymān was caused by "defective Byzantine sources"[3]

It was sacked by Heraclius in 622 AD, and the fire temple and sanctuary of Adur Gushnasp was destroyed.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b M. Boyce, Ganzak, in Encyclopaedia Iranica, vol. 10, 2001.
  2. ^ Christensen, Peter (1993). The Decline of Iranshahr. Museum Tusculanum Press. pp. 323–324, note 10. ISBN 9788772892597. http://books.google.com/books?id=ebB_ac13v3UC&pg=PA323&dq=ganzak&sig=ACfU3U34xip7O_lXePB1arDwWOiKSQtTvQ#PPA323,M1. Retrieved 23 Jul 2008. 
  3. ^ D. Huff, TAKT-e Solayman, in Encyclopaedia Iranica (sup.), 2001.


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