Chorasan, Region
1638. Some yeares travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique by Thomas Herbert.
Hence also let us view (from this highest Tarrasse of the world) North East, and fix our dim sight upon Corason. Corazon I take for that, old writers intitled Coraxi in Pliny, Corziana in Procopius; Corasphy in Ptolomy; Chorasmia in Athaeneus, vicinating the Seres (part of Sogdiana the one, of Aria the other) famous in silk and delicate wooll, by Lucan memorized.
Tzetza thus in their commendations. Seres atque Tochares (the first seat of the Turks or Turqu'stans) gentes prope Iudiam, texturas pulcherrimas texentes omnium, & quae praeciosiores antiquis temporibus Iberes occidentales (now Georgia) & Coraxi (now Corazon) similiter texturas pulcherrimas lana operianur, &c. Nunc autem abuteus ut multi, dixeram illud ex Thebis, ex Sericis non ignarus ut alli, &c. Whereby it seemes though silke in the Latin is from the Seres, yet they had it from the Iberians, and they from Aegypt; so likewise now Hyrcania is most excellent.
Corazon (included twixt 36 and 40 degrees) is divided into three large Provinces. Hery, Farghan, and Tocharistan, (i.e. Aria, Paropamisa, Tocharia) all at this day adding lustre to the Persian Diadem.
1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.
ARIA is bounded on the East, with Paropamisus; on the West, with Parthia; on the North, with Margiana; and on the South, with Drangiana, from which last parted by the mountain Bagoas. A name in old times given to the Province of Media, especially by the Grecians, till changed (as they say) into Media, on the comming thither of Medea. For so Pansanias, amongst others, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i.e. comming into the Countrey then called Aria, she caused it after her own name to be called Media. But the name of Aria was not lost, though it were removed; remaining proper to this Countrey till these later ages; now changed with little alteration into that of Eri.
The Countrey much subject unto heates, environed with desarts, heaths, and forrests; yet neer the mountains which defend them from the heat of the Sun, they have some fruitful Champagnas; bearing very good fruits, and amongst others, a strong wine, and of long continuance; keeping both tast and colour above 80 years. They have also here a Drug somewhat like to Myrrhe, and a kind of Saphyr, but not right.
Rivers of note I meet with none but that which Ptolemy calleth Arias, by the name of the Province, making a Lake of the same name. The fountain of which River he maketh to be in Paroumisus, and the fall thereof in the said Like: the waters of it first increased by a nameless Stream falling from the Mountains called Seriphi, being that part of Taurus which divideth this Countrey from Margiana.
Antiently it was populous and well-inhabited, containing above 30 Towns of name and note. Those of most consequence, 1. Aria, on the banks of the River Arias, the seat of the Aria, whom Pliny speaketh of in this Tract: but whether they received this name from the Province, or bestowed their own name upon it, I determine not. 2. Bataxa, 3. Sotera, 4. Orbitana, 5. Sarmagana, 6. Artacanda, by Strabo called Artacana, 7. Nisibis, mentioned both by Ptolomy and Ammianus, 8. Alexandria, bearing the name of the Great Conqueror, by whom planted and made a Colony of his Macedonians, for the better awing of the Countrey, which by some former rebellions had been troublesome to him. But these, and most of those remembred by Ptolomy, being grown out of knowledge, there remains now of speciall note, 9. Heri, or Eri, seated not far from the place of the antient Aria, but much superiour to it in strength and greatness. Said by Maginus to be in compass thirteen miles, and so plentifully stored with Roses, that the inhabitants of the Countrey call it the City of Roses. Naturally of a strong situation, compassed about with a very good wall, and watered with deep Channels, conveyed unto it by Tamerlanc, that most puissant Tartar, by whom either founded or repaired. 10. Sasuar, a place of good importance, and the second in esteem next to Herit it self.
The old Inhabtants were the Masdarami, Nisar, Astaren, the Cassirota, Obares, Drachamae, Borgi, Paranti, &c. united altogether in the name of Arians, by that name subject to the Persians, and subdued by Alexander. Against whom when they had rebelled, and were worsted by him, they were compelled to betake themselves to the strength of a Cave, seated upon the top of an inaccessible Rock, and with small force easily defended. But to Alexander nothing was impossible For piling up a great mass of timber, equall unto the mouth of the Cave, when the wind served opportunely, he put fire unto it, and by that means so filled the Cave with fire and smoak, that some of them were stifled, some half-burnt, and the rest forced to yield to the Victors mercy. Nor was this the onely action of note during that Rebellion, though it was the greatest. The common Souldier also had his honour in it. Sarlibarzanes, a Persian, whom Alexander had trusted with the command of this Province, had drawn them unto this Revolt, and became their head. Who to express his courage in the sight of the Arians, challenged the proudest He of the Macedonians to a single combat. The challenge cheerfully accepted by one Eriguis, one of the most aged in the Army: and saying aloud, ostendam quales milites Alexander habet, he valiantly charged upon the Rebell; and at the second venew slew him. The Arians after this triall of their disabilities, remained in quiet, taking the same fortunes as the rest of the Persians did, in their change of Masters. Of late, by Mahomet Codubanda, it was aliened for a time from the Crown of Persia, and given to Sultan Abas, his second sonne, who took unto himself in his Fathers life-time the title of the King of Heri. But comming to the Crown by the murder of his elder Brother, and the death of his Father, he united Heri once again to the Regal Diademe, but kept as a distinct title in the Royall stile.
1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.
Heri, Aria, a Province in Persia, in Asia; more commonly called Hera or Herat; it has a City and a River of the same Name. This River, in the later Maps called Pulimoilon, riseth out of the Mountains of Cassubi; and washing the Walls of this City on all sides (it standing in an Island) falls into the Lake of Burgian. The City is called Ser-heri; in Long. 100. 13. and Lat 36. 20. Ninety German Miles West of Candahar, one hundred and twenty South-East of the Caspian. The Roses of this Province are thought the best in the World. The Province of Heri is a part of that of Chorasan; which is one of the most rich, fertile and populous Provinces in all Persia. In the City of Heri are made the best Persian Tapestries: on which, and other accounts, it is much frequented by the Indians, who must pass through it in their way to Persia. See Olearius his Travels.
1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.
Aria, a Country of Persia, now call'd Chorasans, having to the North Bactriana and Margiana, to the East Parapovisus, to the South Drangiana, and to the West Parthia, but somewhat more remote from Hyrcania. The chief City of the Province, formerly bearing the name of Aria, is now call'd Herat or Serheri, 31 Spanish Leagues from Burgian, a large and wealthy City, much celebrated for the Roses that grow about it: Heri, or Hera, in Latin Aria, a Province of Persia, famous for the best Roses of the World, and the City Heri, where the finest Persian Tapestry is made, and on that account much frequented by the Indians. This City stands 90 German Miles W. of Candahar, and 120 South East of the Caspian Sea. It hath also a River of the same Name which washeth its Walls. Olearius his Travels