Alexandria Ariana

Coordinates: 34°14′33″N 62°26′57″E / 34.24246°N 62.44904°E The first of many Alexandrias in the Far East of the Macedonian Empire, Alexandria in Ariana was a city in what is now present-day Afghanistan, one of the twenty-plus cities founded or renamed by Alexander the Great. The third largest Afghan city, Herat, is the city's modern name.^[1][2]

In 330 BC, the Greek armies of Alexander moved the capital of the satrapy of Aria^[3] from Artacoana to the new site.^[4] In doing this, he expanded an existing Persian fortress.

Mercator Map (1578) - Asiae-Tabula IX

The location of this town is difficult to determine due to the sparsity of ancient sources. However:

• Ptolemey^[5] places it near lake Arius possibly on the west side of lake Zerra at a town called Corra.
• Pliny says ^[6] it was on the Arias River the location of modern Herat.
• Eratosthenes states that Alexandria Arion is 3870 Stadia from Bactra and 6400 Stadia from the Caspian Gates.^[7]
• Mannert takes the Arius River to be the modern Hari river making the site the village of Pilki.^[8]

Alexandria in Ariana is listed on the Parthian Stations Itinerarium and is also shown on the Tabula Peutingeriana.

References

1. Jona Lendering (2007-12-16). "Alexander the Great: his towns". Livius.org. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
2. "The Empire and Expeditions of Alexander the Great". World Digital Library. 1833. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
3. Pliny vi 61 93
4. Strabo, xi 8,9 and 10.
5. Ptolemey, Geography vi 17
6. Pliny History Nat vi 23
7. Strabo xi c 8
8. Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, Volume 1 By Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (Great Britain) p.317