Alexandria Prophthasia
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Citadelo_de_Aleksandro_la_Granda_en_Farah%2C_Afganio.jpg/220px-Citadelo_de_Aleksandro_la_Granda_en_Farah%2C_Afganio.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Mercator_Map_%281578%29_-_Asiae-Tabula_IX.jpg/220px-Mercator_Map_%281578%29_-_Asiae-Tabula_IX.jpg)
Alexandria Prophthasia ( Greek : Αλεξάνδρεια η Προφθασία ) also known as Alexandria in Drangiana was one of the seventy-plus cities founded or renamed by Alexander the Great . [1] The town was founded during an intermediate stop between Herat , in what is now Afghanistan , the location of another of Alexander's fortresses, and Kandahar . [2] [3]
It is mentioned by Strabo , [4] Pliny the Elder , [5] Ammianus Marcellinus , [6] Isidore of Charax , [7] Stephanus of Byzantium [8] and Pseudo-Plutarch . [9] Alexander the Great, arrived in Drangiana in November 330 BC on his way to Kandahar, and found a well-organized province of the Achaemenid empire . [10] [11] He appointed a new satrap , Arsames , and renamed the capital city as Prophthasia, ("Anticipation"), because Alexander had here discovered a conspiracy against his life, organized by his companion Philotas .
Location
The location of Prophthasia is currently unknown. Orthodox opinion is that Prophthasia was at Farah (also known as Phra) [12] and that the citadel of Farah holds the remains of his fortress. However, taking distances given in Pliny, [13] Eratosthenes and Strabo, [14] Tarn believes Farah is too close to the city of Herat and the city was actually at nearby Zaranj . Others feel it was located at Nād-e 'Alī . [15]
The 1578, a world map which Mercator constructed from Ptolemy 's map shows the city some distance to the north of the Zaranji lakes . Similarly, the 13th century copy of the 4th century Peutinger Map shows Zaranj and Prophthasia as distinct locations.
See also
References
- ↑ Edward James Rapson, The Cambridge History of India, Volume 1. 1955 Cambridge University Press . Page 380
- ↑ Caii Plinii secundi Naturalis historiae libri XXXVII interpretatione et notis illustravit Joannes Harduinus in usum Delphini Jean Hardouin, Pline l'Ancien, Hardouin page 698 .
- ↑ Ralph Griffiths, George Edward Griffiths The Monthly Review May 1749-Sept. 1803 Page 514
- ↑ Strabo , 11.8 & 15.2.
- ↑ Pliny Naturalis Historia 6.61
- ↑ Ammianus Marcellinus 13.6.
- ↑ Isidore of Charax , Parthian Stations ( Itinerarium ) 17.
- ↑ Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica, Ph670.21
- ↑ Pseudo-Plutarch De Alex.
- ↑ Caii Plinii secundi Naturalis historiae libri XXXVII interpretatione et notis illustravit Joannes Harduinus in usum Delphini Jean Hardouin, Pline l'Ancien, Hardouin page 698 .
- ↑ Ralph Griffiths, George Edward Griffiths The Monthly Review May 1749-Sept. 1803 Page 514
- ↑ Isidore of Charax, The Parthian Stations 17.
- ↑ Pliny XI 61.
- ↑ Strabo XI 514.
- ↑ Alexandria at Encyclopedia Iranica .com.
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