MAIASP. 2019. No. 11

H.Zh. Harutyunyan (Yerevan, Armenia)

THE THIRTY-THIRD COUNTRY OF UNIVERSAL ASIA ON AN ANCIENT ARMENIAN GEOGRAPHY”:

ARIC (ARianaARIA) OR PARTHIA?

DOI: 10.24411/2713-2021-2019-00012 

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Pages: 505516

In Ancient Armenian Geography, Aric is named the thirty-third country of General Asia, in which there is reason to see both Aria and Ariana. The description of this country is very careless. It is said that Aric consists of eleven provinces. However, only four of them are named and described. It seems that Aric is not Parthia. Indeed, the second of these countries is also described in Ancient Armenian Geography. And the information about her is pretty accurate. Judging by the fact that detailed information is provided on its eastern and northeastern borders. However, we cannot accept this point of view. We insist that Aric is Parthia. We believe that M. Khorenatsi could not mention her because of the negative attitude of the Sassanids to the Arshakids dynasty. Information about the Parthia was added to the Ancient Armenian Geography by A. Shirakatsi. After him, the description of this country was carelessly distorted by an unknown scribe. In any case, Ancient Armenian Geography is a valuable source on the history and geography of Parthia.

Key words: Movses Khorenatsi, Ananias of Shirak, Ancient Armenian Geography, History of Armenia, History of Iran, Aric, Parthia.

Received October 27, 2019

Accepted for publication November 20, 2019

About the author:

Harutyunyan Hakob Zhoraevich (Yerevan, Armenia). Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Yerevan State University.

E-mail: hakobharutyunyan@ysu.am