Early Arsakid Parthia (ca. 250-165 B.C.) : at the crossroads of Iranian, Hellenistic, and central Asian history

"In his new monograph Early Arsakid Parthia (ca. 250-165 B.C.): At the Crossroads of Iranian, Hellenistic, and Central Asian History, Marek Jan Olbrycht explores the early history of the Arsakid Parthian state. Making use of literary and epigraphic evidence as well numismatic and archaeological sources, Olbrycht convincingly depicts how the Arsakid dynasty created a kingdom (248 B.C.-A.D. 226), small at first, which, within a century after its founding, came to dominate the Iranian Plateau and portions of Central Asia as well as Mesopotamia. The "Parthian genius" lay in the Arsakids' ability to have blended their steppe legacy with that of sedentary Iranians, and to have absorbed post-Achaemenid Iranian and Seleukid socio-economic, political, and cultural traditions"-- Provided by publisher ‎Contents 5 ‎Preface 9 ‎Maps and Figures 12 ‎Abbreviations 14 ‎Genealogical List of the Early Arsakids 17 ‎Introduction 19 ‎1. How It All Began—Scholarship on Early Parthia 19 ‎2. Geographical Setting and Climatic Conditions 22 ‎Part 1. Geopolitical Situation in Western and Central Asia in the Early Hellenistic Age 33 ‎Chapter 1. From Periphery to Center: Northeastern Iran and the Caspian-Aral Region in the Post-Achaemenid Period 35 ‎1. Parthia and Hyrkania in the Achaemenid and Early Hellenistic Age 35 ‎2. The Steppe Peoples of the Caspian-Aral Region 39 ‎3. The Seleukid Period 43 ‎Chapter 2. Contesting Seleukid Unity 55 ‎1. Iranian Dynasties in Western Asia in the Third Century B.C. 55 ‎2. The Graeco-Bactrian Kingdom 63 ‎3. Seleukid Disintegration 65 ‎4. Seleukos II, Antiochos Hierax, and Regional Rulers in Western Asia 66 ‎5. The War of the Brothers: Antiochos Hierax versus Seleukos II 77 ‎6. Seleukos II in the Upper Satrapies 84 ‎7. Seleukid Coalitions and Local Rulers 87 ‎8. Conclusions 90 ‎Chapter 3. Seleukid Parthia—Hyrkania and the Figure of Andragoras 91 ‎1. Introduction 91 ‎2. Andragoras’ Rebellion 92 ‎3. Andragoras in Justin 12.4.12 96 ‎4. The Name of Andragoras—Some Interpretations 101 ‎5. Inscription from Gorgān (Hyrkania) 102 ‎6. Coins Minted in the Name of Andragoras 105 ‎7. Coins of Vakhshuvar 114 ‎8. Concluding Remarks 117 ‎Part 2. The Origins and Growth of the Arsakid State 119 ‎Chapter 4. History in Space: The Locational Geography of Early Parthia 121 ‎1. Early Arsakid Parthia in Strabo and Apollodoros of Artemita 121 ‎2. Klaudios Ptolemaios and the Aparnoi 133 ‎3. The Homeland of the Aparnoi on the Ochos 134 ‎4. The Aparnoi in Iran’s History 137 ‎5. Dahistān 141 ‎Chapter 5. Defectio Parthorum et Arsaces Rex: The Emergence of Arsakid Parthia in Literary Sources 144 ‎1. Trogus/Justin and Strabo—The Chief Historical Accounts 144 ‎2. Arrian-Photios, Synkellos, and the Figure of Tiridates 159 ‎3. The Historicity of Tiridates 165 ‎4. The Remaining Evidence 167 ‎5. Arsakid Parthians and Their “Skythian Descent” 171 ‎6. The Etymology of the Term “Parthia” 172 ‎7. Issues of Chronology 174 ‎8. Conclusions 178 ‎Chapter 6. Imperium Constitutum Est—Achievements and Challenges of Arsakes I 180 ‎1. Political Achievements of Arsakes I 180 ‎2. Seleukos II’s Expedition against the Arsakid Monarchy 188 ‎3. Parthia versus the Seleukid Kingdom in the Initial Years of Antiochos III 197 ‎4. Stabilisation of Power 200 ‎5. Remarks on the Nature of the Arsakid State 215 ‎Chapter 7. Parthia from Arsakes II to Phraates I 219 ‎1. Arsakes II 219 ‎2. Friyapatak and Phraates I 238 ‎3. The Genealogy of Older Arsakids in Light of Epigraphic Documents 245 ‎4. The Early Arsakid Rulers—Aspects of Chronology 248 ‎5. Parthian Language and Writing 253 ‎Part 3. Coinage and Archaeological Evidence 257 ‎Chapter 8. The Early Arsakid Coinage and Concept of Royal Power 259 ‎1. The Coinage of the Early Arsakids 259 ‎2. Arsakes as Karanos, Autokrator, and King 266 ‎3. The Memory of Arsakes and his Role as Deified Ancestor of the Arsakids 272 ‎Chapter 9. An Archaeological Perspective of Early Arsakid Parthia 275 ‎1. Northern Parthia 275 ‎2. Dargaz and the Upper Atrak Region (Remarks) 292 ‎3. The Steppe Peoples of the Caspian-Aral Region 293 ‎General Conclusion 312 ‎Bibliography 315 ‎Index of Personal Names 373 ‎Index of Geographic and Ethnic Names 377 ‎Index of Sources 386 In Early Arsakid Parthia (ca. 250-165 B.c.): At The Crossroads Of Iranian, Hellenistic, And Central Asian History, Marek Jan Olbrycht Depicts The Early Arsakid Parthian State In Northeastern Iran And Turkmenistan Within The Broader Historical Context Of Western And Central Asia In The Post-achaemenid/hellenistic Period.