Ariana

This article is about a historical term. For other uses, see Ariana (disambiguation).

19th century reconstruction of a map of the world by Eratosthenes, c.194 BC. The name Ariana can be seen on this map.

Ariana, the latinized form of (Greek: Αρειανή / Arianē), was a region of the eastern countries of ancient Iran, next to India. At various times, the region was in possession of the Persians, the Macedonians, and partly the Indians.

As a geographical term Ariana was introduced by Eratosthenes and as such it was defined by a border-line comprising the Indus river in the east, the sea in the south, a line from Carmania to the Caspian Gates in the west, and the so-called Taurus Mountains in the north, and, as Strabo emphasizes, also by its name, “as of a single nation.” This large region includes almost all of the countries east of Media and Persia and south of the great mountain ranges up to the deserts of Gedrosia and Carmania, i.e. the provinces of Carmania, Gedrosia, Drangiana, Arachosia, Aria, the Paropamisadae; also Bactria was reckoned to Ariana and was called “the ornament of Ariana as a whole” by Apollodorus of Artemita.

Ptolemy divides Ariana into the seven provinces of:

1. Margiana
2. Bactriana
3. Aria
4. Paropamisadae
5. Drangiana
6. Arachosia
7. Gedrosia

The Greek term is based upon Old Iranian *Āryana- (Avestan Airiiana-, esp. in Airiianəm vaēǰō, the name of the Aryans’ mother country, whose localization is disputed).

See also

• Airyanem Vaejah
• Āryāvarta

References

• Tomaschek in Pauly-Wissowa, II/1, cols. 619f., and 813f.
• G. Gnoli, “ʾΑριανÎṟ: Postilla ad Ariyō šayana,” RSO 41, 1966, pp.
• P. Calmeyer, AMI 15, 1982, pp. 135ff.