Citation with stable link: Philip A. Harland, 'Parthians and Arabians: Isidoros of Charax and the imperial purposes of geographic and ethnographic information (late first century BCE),' Ethnic Relations and Migration in the Ancient World, last modified June 11, 2024, https://philipharland.com/Blog/?p=21016.

Ancient authors: Isidoros of Charax Spasinou, Description of Parthia = FGrHist 781 T1 and F2 (link to FGrHist), as discussed by Pliny the Elder, Natural History 6.141 and partially preserved in Codex Parisinus 443 (link).

Comments: The writings of Isidoros of Charax Spasinou (a native of that trading center on the lower Tigris in what is now Iraq) supply a further instance of the close association between imperial expansion and travel-writing aimed at gathering geographic and ethnographic information. In this case, Pliny describes Isidoros being sent in advance by emperor Augustus himself to explore Arabia and Parthia. The surviving portions or citations of Isidoros’ work do not suggest extensive ethnographic descriptions of specific peoples, however. Instead, peoples and other local phenomena (such as the nature of pearls in the Persian sea as cited by Athenaios, Sophists at Dinner 3.93e-94b, not included here) appear here and there alongside Isidoros’ main concerns with outlining a travel itinerary with distances between different places and regions. So the surviving portions of this writing have affinities with circumnavigation literature, even though the focus is on travel over land here (link). Below I have included Pliny’s description of Isidoros’ mission along with some of the surviving portions of the Parthian stopping points, which do make reference to some peoples (e.g. Mardians, Scythian Sakians, and Parthians) and local customs (e.g. sacrifices) along the way (underlined for easier identification).

Works consulted: D.W. Roller, “Isidoros of Charax (781)” In Jacoby Online: Brill’s New Jacoby – Second Edition, Part III, edited by Ian Worthington. Brill: Leiden, 2019.

‗‗‗‗‗‗‗

[Expedition into Arabia and Parthia on behalf of emperor Augustus]

(T1 = Pliny the Elder, Natural History 6.141) It has not escaped my notice that Charax [Spasinou on the Tigris river, modern Iraq] was the birthplace of Dionysios [Isidoros is most likely intended, as in 1.2], the most recent writer dealing with the geography of the world. He was sent in advance to the east by god Augustus to write a full account of it when the emperor’s elder son was about to proceed to Armenia to take command against the Parthians and Arabians. Nor have I forgotten the view stated at the beginning of my work that each author appears to be most accurate in describing his own country. In this section however my intention is to be guided by the Roman armies and by king Juba [link], in his volumes dedicated to the above-mentioned Gaius Caesar describing the same expedition to Arabia.

‗‗‗‗‗‗‗

[Parthian stopping points with some references to local peoples]

[Note: The measurement of a Greek schoinos varies, but Eratosthenes, followed by Pliny, Natural History 12.53, suggests that one schoinos was about the equivalent of forty Greek stadia, or stadium-lengths.]

(F2) Mesopotamia and Babylonia 171 land-measurements (schoinoi):

(1) For those who cross the Euphrates, next to Zeugma is the city of Apameia, and then there is the village of Daiara. It is three land-measures (schoinoi) away from Apameia and the river Euphrates. Then comes Charax Sidai, called by the Greeks the city of Anthemousias, five land-measures. Beyond this is Koraia in Batana, a fortified place: three land-measures away. To the right of this place is Mannuorrha Auyreth, a fortified place and a well, from which the inhabitants get drinking water: five land-measures. Then there is Kommisimbela, a fortified place by which flows the river Bilecha: four land-measures. Then there is Alagma, a fortified place, a royal station: three land-measures. Beyond this is Ichnai, a Greek city, founded by the Macedonians and situated on the river Balicha: three land-measures. Then there is Nikephorion by the Euphrates, a Greek city, founded by king Alexander: five land-measures. Farther on, by the river, is Galahatha, a deserted village: four land-measures. Then there is the village of Choumbana: one land-measure. Farther on is Thillada Mirrhada, a royal station: four land-measures. Then there is a royal place, a temple of Artemis, founded by Darius, a small town. Close by is the canal of Semiramis, and the Euphrates is dammed with rocks here in order that by being checked in this way it may overflow the fields. However, it also wrecks the boats in the summer. It is seven land-measures to this place. Then there is Allan, a walled village: four land-measures. Then there is Phaliga, a village on the Euphrates (that means in “half-way” in Greek): six land-measures. From Antioch to this place it is one hundred and twenty land-measures. From there to Seleukeia, which is on the Tigris, it is one hundred land-measures. Nearby Phaliga is the walled village of Nabagath, and by it flows the river Abouras, which empties into the Euphrates. The legions cross over to the Roman territory beyond the river here. Then there is the village of Asich: four land-measures. Beyond this is the city of Dura Nikanoris, founded by the Macedonians, also called by Europos by the Greeks: six land-measures. Then there is Merrha, a fortified place, a walled village, five land-measures. Then there is the city of Giddan: five land-measures. Then there is Belesi Biblada: seven land-measures. Beyond this is an island in the Euphrates: six land-measures. This is the location of the treasure of Phraates, who cut the throats of his concubines, when Tiridates who was exiled, invaded. Then there is Anatho, an island in the Euphrates, measuring four stadium-lengths, on which is a city: four land-measures. Beyond this is Thilabos, an island in the Euphrates. This where the treasure of the Parthians is located: two land-measures. Then there is Izan, a city on an island: twelve land-measures. Then there is Aipolis, [the city of Is] where there are bituminous springs: sixteen land-measures. Beyond is the city of Besechana, in which is a temple of Atargatis: twelve land-measures. Then there is Neapolis by the Euphrates, twenty-two land-measures. From that place those leaving the Euphrates and passing through Narmalchan come to Seleukeia on the Tigris: nine land-measures. Mesopotamia and Babylonia extend to this location. From Zeugma to Seleukeia there are one hundred and seventy one land-measures.

(2) Apolloniatis begins at this place and extends thirty-three land-measures. It has villages, in which there are stations, as well as a Greek city, Artemita. The river Silla flows through Artemita. To that place from Seleukeia is fifteen land-measures. But now the city is called Chalasar.

(3) From that place, Chalonitis, twenty-one land-measures, in which there are five villages with stations, and there is a Greek city, Chala: fifteen land-measures beyond Apolloniatis. Then, after five land-measures, there is a mountain which is called Zagros, which forms the boundary between the district of Chalonitis and that of the Medes.

(4) From that place is [Lower] Media, which extends twenty-two land-measures. The beginning is at the district of Karina. There are five villages in Karina in which there are stations, but no city.

(5) From that place is Kambadene, which extends thirty-one land-measures, in which there are five villages and stations, as well as a city. Bagistana is situated on a mountain. There is a statue and a pillar of Semiramis.

(6) From that place Upper Media begins: thirty-eight land-measures. At three land-measures from the very beginning of it is the city of Konkobar. There is a temple of Artemis: three land-measures. Then there is Bazigraban, which is a custom house: three land-measures. From there to Adrapana, the royal residence of those who ruled in Ekbatana, and which Tigranes the Armenian destroyed, measures four land-measures. Then there is Ekbatana, the metropolis of Media and the treasury, as well as a temple, sacred to Anaitis: twelve land-measures. They always sacrifice there. And beyond that place are three villages in which there are stations.

(7) From that place is [Rhagiana] Media, [fifty-eight] land-measures. In it are ten villages, and five cities. After seven land-measures are Rhaga and Charax. Of these, Rhaga is the greatest of the cities in Media. And in Charax the first king Phraates settled the Mardians. Charax is beneath a mountain, which is called Caspius, beyond which are the Caspian Gates.

(8) Beyond that place, for those passing through the Caspian Gates there is a narrow valley, and the district of Choarena [nineteen land-measures]. In this district is the city of Apameia, after four land-measures. There are four villages in which there are stations.

(9) Beyond this is Komisena: fifty-eight land-measures. There are eight villages in Komisena in which there are stations, but there is no city.

(10) Beyond this is Hyrkania, sixty land-measures, in which there are eleven villages in which there are stations.

(11) Beyond is Astauena, 60 land-measures, in which there are twelve villages in which there are stations, as well as the city of Asaac, in which Arsakes was first proclaimed king. An everlasting fire is guarded there.

(12) Beyond is Parthyena, twenty-five land-measures. In Parthyena there is a valley and the city of Parthaunisa after six land-measures. There are royal tombs. But the Greeks call it Nisaia. Then there is the city of Gathar after six land-measures. Then there is the city of Sirok after five land-measures. Of villages this area has no more than one, which is called Saphri.

(13) Beyond is Apauarktikena, twenty-seven land-measures, in which is the city of Apauarktika. Then there is the city of Ragau and two villages.

(14) Beyond this is Margiana: thirty land-measures. There is Antiochia, called “well-watered,” but there are no villages.

(15) Beyond this is Aria, thirty land-measures. There are the city of Kandak and the city of Artakauan and Alexandria of the Arians, as well as four villages.

(16) Beyond this is Anauon, a region of Aria, fifty-five land-measures, in which is a very great city, Phra; the city of Bis; the city of Gari; and, the city of Nia. But there is no village.

(17) Beyond this is Zarangiana, twenty-one land-measures. There are the city of Parin and the city of Korok.

(18) Beyond this is Sakastana of the Scythian Sakians, which is also Paraitakena: sixty-three land-measures. There are the city of Barda, the city of Min, the city of Palakenti, and the city of Sigal. In that place is the royal residence of the Sakians. Nearby is the city of Alexandria (and nearby is the city of Alexandropolis), as well as six villages.

(19) Beyond is Arachosia: thirty-six land-measures. And the Parthians call this “White India.” There are the city of Biyt, the city of Pharsana, the city of Chorochoad, and the city of Demetrias. Then there is Alexandropolis, the metropolis of Arachosia, which is Greek, and the river Arachotos flows by it. As far as this place the land is under the rule of the Parthians.

The Parthian stations of Isidore of Charax.

‗‗‗‗‗‗‗

Source of translation: H. Rackham, W.H.S. Jones, and D.E. Eichholz, Pliny: Natural History, 10 volumes, LCL (Cambridge, MA: HUP, 1938-1962), public domain (Rackham passed away in 1944, Jones passed away in 1963, copyright not renewed as well); W.H. Schoff, Parthian Stations by Isidore of Charax: The Greek Text with a Translation and Commentary (Philadelphia, PA: Commercial Museum, 1914), using the text in C. Müller in his Geographi Graeci Minores (Paris 1853), vol. 1. pp. 244-256, adapted by Harland.