Charax (; grc, Χάραξ) was a
Seleucid
The Seleucid Empire (; grc, Βασιλεία τῶν Σελευκιδῶν, ''Basileía tōn Seleukidōn'') was a Greek state in West Asia that existed during the Hellenistic period from 312 BC to 63 BC. The Seleucid Empire was founded by the ...
and
Parthian Parthian may be:
Historical
* A demonym "of Parthia", a region of north-eastern of Greater Iran
* Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD)
* Parthian language, a now-extinct Middle Iranian language
* Parthian shot, an archery skill famously employed by ...
town located in the province of
Rhagiana, near the city of
Rhaga (present-day
Rey Rey may refer to:
*Rey (given name), a given name
*Rey (surname), a surname
* Rey (''Star Wars''), a character in the ''Star Wars'' films
* Rey, Iran, a city in Iran
* Ray County, in Tehran Province of Iran
* ''Rey'' (film), a 2015 Indian film
*The ...
). According to its Greek name, which translates as "
palisade
A palisade, sometimes called a stakewall or a paling, is typically a fence or defensive wall made from iron or wooden stakes, or tree trunks, and used as a defensive structure or enclosure. Palisades can form a stockade.
Etymology
''Palisade' ...
", Charax was a fortified town. Founded by the Seleucids, it was located nearby
Apameia according to
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of importanc ...
(''
Geography
Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
'' 6.4.4). According to
Isidore of Charax
Isidore of Charax (; grc, Ἰσίδωρος ὁ Χαρακηνός, ''Isídōros o Charakēnós''; la, Isidorus Characenus) was a Greco-Roman geographer of the 1st century BC and 1st century AD, a citizen of the Parthian Empire, about whom noth ...
, who is considered to be the principal primary source, Charax was one of five cities located in Rhagiana, its main city being Rhaga. He also notes that it was situated "at the foot of a mountain called Caspius (...)", which is identified with the
Alborz Mountains
The Alborz ( fa, البرز) range, also spelled as Alburz, Elburz or Elborz, is a mountain range in northern Iran that stretches from the border of Azerbaijan along the western and entire southern coast of the Caspian Sea and finally runs nort ...
.
When
Phraates I of Parthia
Phraates I ( xpr, 𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕 ''Frahāt'') was king of the Arsacid dynasty from 170/168 BC to 165/64 BC. He subdued the Mardians, conquered their territory in the Alborz mountains, and reclaimed Hyrcania from the Seleucid Empire. He died in ...
extended the Parthian realm eastwards in about 176 BC, he conquered the
Amardioi/Mardi tribe, and relocated a part of them in Charax. This was reportedly done in order to create a stronghold needed for the conquest of
Media
Media may refer to:
Communication
* Media (communication), tools used to deliver information or data
** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising
** Broadcast media, communications delivered over mass el ...
.
The actual site of Charax remains uncertain. Proposed options include modern
Eyvānekey and Arazi.
Sources
*
* {{Encyclopaedia Iranica , volume=5 , fascicle=4 , title = CHARAX , last = Shahbazi , first = A. Shapur , author-link = , url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/charax-town-in-the-seleucid-and-parthian-province-of-rhagiana-the-area-around-modern-ray , pages = 365–366
Former populated places in Iran
Seleucid colonies
Parthian cities
Lost ancient cities and towns