Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

9. ARIA.

ARIA is bounded on the East, with Paropamisus; on the West, with Parthia; on the North, with Margiana; and on the South, with Drangiana, from which last parted by the mountain Bagoas. A name in old times given to the Province of Media, especially by the Grecians, till changed (as they say) into Media, on the comming thither of Medea. For so Pansanias, amongst others, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i.e. comming into the Countrey then called Aria, she caused it after her own name to be called Media. But the name of Aria was not lost, though it were removed; remaining proper to this Countrey till these later ages; now changed with little alteration into that of Eri.

The Countrey much subject unto heates, environed with desarts, heaths, and forrests; yet neer the mountains which defend them from the heat of the Sun, they have some fruitful Champagnas; bearing very good fruits, and amongst others, a strong wine, and of long continuance; keeping both tast and co∣lour above 80 years. They have also here a Drug somewhat like to Myrrhe, and a kind of Saphyr, but not right.

Rivers of note I meet with none but that which Ptolemy calleth Arias, by the name of the Province, making a Lake of the same name. The fountain of which River he maketh to be in Paroumisus, and the fall thereof in the said Like: the waters of it first increased by a nameless Stream falling from the Mountains called Seriphi, being that part of Taurus which divideth this Countrey from Margiana.

Antiently it was populous and well-inhabited, containing above 30 Towns of name and note. Those of most consequence, 1. Aria, on the banks of the River Arias, the seat of the Aria, whom Pliny speaketh of in this Tract: but whether they received this name from the Province, or bestowed their own

name upon it, I determine not. 2. Bataxa, 3. Sotera, 4. Orbitana, 5. Sarmagana, 6. Ar∣tacanda, by Strabo called Artacana, 7. Nisibis, mentioned both by Ptolomy and Ammianus, 8. Alexandria, bearing the name of the Great Conqueror, by whom planted and made a Colony of his Macedonians, for the better awing of the Countrey, which by some former rebellions had been trouble∣some to him. But these, and most of those remembred by Ptolomy, being grown out of knowledge, there remains now of speciall note, 9. Heri, or Eri, seated not far from the place of the antient Aria, but much superiour to it in strength and greatness. Said by Maginus to be in compass thirteen miles, and so plenti∣fully stored with Roses, that the inhabitants of the Countrey call it the City of Roses. Naturally of a strong situation, compassed about with a very good wall, and watered with deep Channels, conveyed unto it by Tamerlanc, that most puissant Tartar, by whom either founded or repaired. 10. Sasuar, a place of good importance, and the second in esteem next to Herit it self.

The old Inhabtants were the Masdarami, Nisar, Astaren, the Cassirota, Obares, Dracha∣mae, Borgi, Paranti, &c. united altogether in the name of Arians, by that name subject to the Persians, and subdued by Alexander. Against whom when they had rebelled, and were worsted by him, they were compelled to betake themselves to the strength of a Cave, seated upon the top of an inaccessible Rock, and with small force easily defended. But to Alexander nothing was impossi∣ble For piling up a great mass of timber, equall unto the mouth of the Cave, when the wind serv∣ed opportunely, he put fire unto it, and by that means so filled the Cave with fire and smoak, that some of them were stifled, some half-burnt, and the rest forced to yield to the Victors mercy. Nor was this the onely action of note during that Rebellion, though it was the greatest. The common Souldier also had his honour in it. Sarlibarzanes, a Persian, whom Alexander had trusted with the command of this Province, had drawn them unto this Revolt, and became their head. Who to express his courage in the sight of the Arians, challenged the proudest He of the Macedonians to a single combat. The challenge cheerfully accepted by one Eriguis, one of the most aged in the Army: and saying aloud, ostendam quales milites Alexander habet, he valiantly charged upon the Rebell; and at the second venew slew him. The Arians after this triall of their disabilities, re∣mained in quiet, taking the same fortunes as the rest of the Persians did, in their change of Masters. Of late, by Mahomet Codubanda, it was aliened for a time from the Crown of Persia, and given to Sultan Abas, his second sonne, who took unto himself in his Fathers life-time the title of the King of Heri. But comming to the Crown by the murder of his elder Brother, and the death of his Fa∣ther, he united Heri once again to the Regal Diademe, but kept as a distinct title in the Royall stile.