Media

Sources from old books

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of MEDIA, and the Provinces thereof.

Media is limited on the East with Parthia; on the West with Armenia, on the South with Persia, and on the North with the Caspian Sea; being absolutely the greatest Sea of all others that hath no commerce with the Ocean, by some called the Hircanian Sea, and by some the Sea Bacchu, of a Towne of that name thereon bordering.

The chiefe Cities of this Countrey is Sultania, famous for the faire Mosque in the East; Sumachia, the strongest of all the rest, taken by the Turkes in Anno 1578, and now the seat of a Turkish Bashaw; Eres, Ardovile, Shervan, Bacchu, and some others; and lastly, the most eminent Tauris, of the trade hereof see heereafter.

Likewise in this Tract is comprehended the Province of Albania, now Zairia, little beholding to the industry or labour of the Husbandman, yet of its owne accord yeelding for one sowing, most times two, and sometimes three reapings: the chiefe Citie is Caucasiae Portae, built hard upon the hill Caucasus, one of the best fortified Townes of the East, now called Derbent, a strong Citie invironed with two walls, and fortified with iron Gates; yet neverthelesse taken it was by the grand Signior in his last wars against the Persians, vnder whose command it now remaineth, being now accounted one of the keyes of this kingdome, and the common entrance into Persia; and lastly in this Countrey Phidon an Argive in Anno mundi 3146 is said to find out the use of weights and measures; which knowledge and concordance by this Tract I covet to obtaine.

And to conclude, a word of the Trade of this Countrey in the generall; I find that the Moscovia company were the first that sought the knowledge thereof in these parts; for upon their discovery of Moscovia, they traded downe the River Volga to Astracan, and thence in Barks sailed with their English commodities to Bacchu, Derbent, and other places on the Caspian Sea, and since some of the East India Company have more narrowly traced it, and have observed the same more particular: the principall commodities proceeding hence is the raw silke made at Gilan, Zahaspa, Rastiguan, Chiulfall, and others, now knowne unto vs by the name of Persia, Ardasse, and Lege silkes, and from this last the dealers in silke here are throughout Asia commonly termed Chiulfallins.

1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.

MEDIA is bounded on the East, with Parthia, and some part of Hyrcania, Provinces of the Persian Empire; on the West, with Armenia Major, and some part of Assyria; on the North, with the Caspian Sea, and those parts of Armenia Major which now pass in the accompt of Georgia; and on the South, with Persia. So called from Madai the sonne of Japhet, by whom first planted and possessed, after that general dispersion made at Babel. Known by this name amongst the antients both Greeks and Romans; but at this time called Sheirvan by the Turks and Persians: the word signifying in the language of this Countrey, a Milkie-Plain.

The Countrey of a large extent, and of so different nature, as one would think it not the same. The North parts lying betwixt Mount Taurus and the Hyrcanian Sea, very cold and comfortless: so barren, that for the most part they make their bread of dried Almonds, and their drink of the juice of certain herbs. Fruit-trees they have but few, and those but of Apples; nor any droves of tame cattel, as in other places, their food being generally on Ventson, or the flesh of wild beasts took in hunting. But on the South-side of the Taurus, the soyl is very rich, and the Countrey pleasant, plentifull both of corn and wine, and all things necessary: full of fat pastures, some of them so large in compass, that 50000 horses do graze upon it.

The people antiently great Warriers, as those who ruined the great Empire of the Babylonians; and laid upon themselves and their own vertue the foundation of the second Monarchy. But being not long after incorporated into the same Empire with the Persians, have not onely ever since followed the same fortunes with them, but participate of their nature also: and therefore we shall hear more of their Character when we come to Persia. Polyg•mie antiently amongst them, so farre from being esteemed a sinne or an inconvenience, that it was a punishment for the common Villager to have less than seven wives; or the woman, if of noble birth, fewer than five husbands. In their warres they use commonly to envenom their Arrows with an oyl or liquor, made of a bituminous water called Naphta, whereof there is great plenty both here, in Persia, and Assyria. The oyl called Oleum Mediacum, from this people only because their invention, and by them most mischievously used. The Arrow which was anointed with it, being shot from a slacker bow (for a swift and strong motion took away its vertue) did burn the flesh wherein it fastned with so great a violence, that nothing but dust could mitigate the fury of it, water increasing rather than diminishing that malignant flame.

The Christian Religion was first here planted by Saint Thomas, but never had the happiness to be so universally embraced as in other places; alwayes opposed and suppressed, either by Paganism in the time of the old Porsian Kings; or by Mahometanism, since the first conquest of this Countrey by the power of the Saracons. Some Christians yet there be amongst them either of the Armenian or Nestorian Sects, (as in all other parts of the Persian Empire) the specialties of whose Religion have been elsewhere spoke of. Here live also very many Jews, indulged the free exercise of their Religion: many of which are the Descendants of those Tribes which were transplanted hither by Salmanassar. But the Religion generally embraced and countenanced is that of Mahomet, according to the Sophian or Persian Sects, the Language of which Nation they do also speak, though they had a language of their own, different from that of the Parthian, Elamite or Persian, as appeareth Acts 2. v. 9. where they are reckoned as distinct.

Mountains of chief note, 1. Orontes, 2. Coronus, 3. Chabor as, the boundary betwixt Media and Assyria, 4. Jasonium, 5. Lagoas; all of them (except Chaboras onely) the disjointed branches of Mount Taurus: which is here more broken and divided than in any part of his course besides.

Out of these flow their principall Rivers, 1. Amandus, 2. Strato, and 3. Carindas; of greatest eminence in this Countrey, in the time of Ptolomy, but otherwise of no great account or observation. 4. Canac, the Divider of this Province from Armenia Major, but whether any of the former under this new name, I am not able to aff••m. Adde hereunto the great Lake, now called Argis (by the Persians, V••sthlar) but by Strabo named Martiana Palus, situate in the confines of Assyria, Media, and Armenia; of the fish whereof, dryed by the Sun and wind, and sold into divers other Conntreys, the people of these parts raise a great commodity.

In former times it was divided into many Provinces, the principall of which 1. Tropatene, 2. Charome••rene, 3. Daritis, 4 Marciane, 5. Amariace, and 6. Syro-Media: these and the rest reduced to two in the later reckonings, viz. Atropatia, and 2. Media Major.

1. ATROPATIA is that part hereof which lieth betwixt Mount Taurus and the Caspian Sea. So called from that Atropatus, Governor of these parts in the time of Darius, the last persian Monarch, who so valiantly held out against the Macedonians. The Tropatene, (as I take it) of the antient Writers. A patten, cold, and unhospitable Countrey, as before described: and for that cause allotted for the dwelling of many of the captive Israelites brought hither by Salmanassar when he conquered that Kingdome: their numbers being found so great in this Northern Region, that benjamin the Jew, reckoned no fewer than 50000 of them in one City onely, which he calleth by the name of Madai. And that great numbers of them were transplanted hither, appeareth by that passage 2 Kings 17. 6. where it is said, that they were placed in Halan and Habor by the River of Goz•n, and in the Cities of the Medes. Now Halah or Chalah seems almost probably to be that Region of Assyria which Ptolomy calleth Chalatone, in the North of that Countrey towards Media; Habor, or Chabor, to be that Mount Chaberus, which parteth this Countrey from Assyria, in which Mountainous tract there was in those times a City of the same name also. Betwixt which City and the banks of the Caspian Sea, I find in Ptolomy the City Gauzania in the 40th. degree and 40 minutes of Northern Latitude: in which there are apparent footsteeps of the name of the River Gozin, upon whose banks it was most likely to be seated.

Places of most observation in it, 1. Hamadum, by Benjamin the Jew called Madai, replenished in his time with families of the captive Israelites. 2. Gaurazania, another dwelling of those Tribes, spoken of before. 3. Mandigarsis, of which nothing extant but the name. 4 Gelan, the Gela of the antients, whom the Greeks call Cadusii. 5. Bochu, more towards the the Caspian Sea, hence called Mare de Bochu. 6. Eres, a place of great strength, but possessed by the Turks, and made the residence of some of their principal Officers: taken by Mustapha, Generall of the Turkish forces in the time of Amurath the 3d. and by him fortified as the Gate and entrance of this Countrey. 7. Sumachia, or Shamaki, betwixt Eres and Derbent, taken by Osman Bassa, at the same time, Anno 1578. and made the Residence of a Beglerbeg, Anno 1583. Conceived to be the Cyropolis of Ptolomy, by the Persinas called Cyreckbata, bearing the name of Cyrus the great Persian Monarch, by whom built or beautified. Remarkable at the present for a Pillar of flint-stones, inter-woven with the heads of many of the Persian nobility, most barbarously slain by one of the late Sultans, and this Pillar here erected for a terrour to others.

2. MAJOR MEDIA, or MEDIA specially so called, is that part hereof which lieth on the South of the Mountain Taurus. Commended by the Antients for one of the godliest Countries in all Asia: the fields (saith Ammianns) yielding abundance of Corn and Wine, for their fatness and fertility very rich, and no less pleasent for fresh Springs and cleer veins of water: where one may see plenty of green Meadows, and in them a breed of generous horses, which they call Nisoei, mounted by as valiant and generous Riders, who with great jollity use to go unto the warres, and charge furiously upon the Enemy. The men commended by Polybius (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c.) as well as the Countrey.

Cities of most note in it, 1. Ecbatana, of as great antiquity as Babylon; for we find that Semiramis the wife of Ninus in a warre made against the Medes, who had then rebelled, taking an affection to the place, caused water-courses to be made to it from the further side of the Mountain Orontes, digging a passage thorow the hills, with great charge and labour. Destroyed by the injury of time it was re-edified by Deioces the sixt King of the Medes, and afterwards much beautified and enlarged by Seleucus Nicanor, Successor unto Alexander in his Asian Conquests. For beauty and magnificence litle inferiour to Babylon or Ninive, before described. In compass 180 or 200 Furlongs, which make about 24 Italian miles. The walls thereof affirmed in the book of Judith to be 70. Cubits high, 50. Cubits broad, and the Towers upon the Gates 100 Cubits higher; all built of hewn and polished stone, each stone being six Cubits in length, and three in breadth. But this is to be understood only of the innermost wall, there being seven in all about it, each of them higher than the other, and each distinguished by the colour of their severall Pinnacles; which gave unto the eye a most gallant Prospect. From which variety of colours it is thought to have the name of Agbatha, or Agbathana. In former times the ordinary residence of the Monarchs of the Medes and Persians in the heats of the summer, as Susa (the chief City of Susiana) in the cold of winter. The Royall Palace being about a mile in compass, was built with all the cost and cuuning that a stately mansion did require: some of the beams thereof of silver, and the rest of Cedar; but those of Cedar strengthned with Plates of Gold. Said by Iosephus to be built by the Prophet Daniel. Which must be understood no otherwise in the truth of Story, than that he over-saw the Workmen, or contrived the Model, appointed to that office by Darius Medus, to whom the building of the same is ascribed by others. Neglected by the Kings of the Parthian race, it became a ruin. 2. Tauris, situate in or neer the place of Echatana, out of whose rubbish it was built. Distanta 150 miles from the Caspian Sea, under the shadow of Orontes, now called Baronta, but opening Southwards towards a large and spacious Campagn: in compass about six miles, and beautified on the South-west within a large and pleasant garden, the work of Sultan Tamas, who resided here often; the buildings for the most part of brick, which flat Roofs (as generally in all the East) well peopled, as containing 200000 persons of all sorts and Sects. Of great trading, subdued by the Turks by whom it was thrice taken within very few years, viz. by Selimus the first, Anno 1514. by Solyman the Magnificent, Anno 1530. and by Osman Bassa, generall of Amarath the 3d. Anno 1585. But this last finding it too chargeable to be always garrisoned, and nototherwise tenable but by force, pulled down the walls, and built a large and capacious Citadel: both Town and Citadel recovered by Emir-Hamze Mirza, Prince of Persia, and father of Sultan Sofy, Anno 1614. after it had been for a hundred years a continuall prey unto the Turks. 3. Arsacia, so named by Ptolomy, and by the name conjectured to be built by some of the Parthian race. Ruined long since, but more beautifully revived than ever in the present. 4. Casbin, raised from the ruins of that Town. Situate in a fair and open place on the banks of a litle River, which serveth 〈◊〉 for houshold uses, but not for trafick. Exceedingly enriched by removall of the Court from Tauris hither, in the time of Tamas, partly invited thereunto by the richness of the soyl, and the commodiousness of the place, but chiefly that he might without danger attend the Turks, who began to incroach on his dominions. In compass about seven miles, beautified with a large market-place, many stately Mosques, and the Sultans Palace: this last adjoyning to the first, convenient enough, but neither of great state nor beauty. 5. Rages, or Raga, mentioned in the book of Tobit, so called from Ragas the sonne of Phaleg, the founder of it: situate neer the spacious Plain, so memorable for the great breed of horses spoken of before; and therefore in that book called the Plain of Rages. Repaired afterwards by the Greeks, it was named Europus, and so stands in Ptolonty. 6. Nassivan, supposed by some to be the Artasata, more probably the Nasman•, of the Antient Writers: a place much aimed at by the Turks in their Persian warres. 7. Ardoville, on or neer the banks of the great lake Argis, spoken of before: the birth-place and chief Seat of Guine and Aider the first Authors of the Sophian Sect, and the burrall place of Sultan Hysmael the first Persian Sultan of that line. 8. Sultania, about six dayes journey from Taurus, environed with high Mountains, the tops of which continually covered with snow, may be seen farre off: founded by Alyaptu, the 8th. King of the Sixt or Tartarian Dynasty; and by him made the Royall Seat of the Persian Sultans, whence it had the name. But ruinated by the Tartars, it retaineth nothing now of its former splendour, but the Mosques, or Temples (one of them, the fairest in the East) which the Tartars spared. 9. Tyroan, in the Territory of Sultania, situate in a large Plain, but not farre from the Mountains; beautified with a fair Market-place, many pleasant Gardens of private men, and one belonging to the King, environed with a wall of greater Circuit than the City. 10. Turcoman, in the midle way betwixt Tauris and Casbin. 11. Damoan, at the foot of Taurus, a Town of 200 houses, not here considerable but for the signification of the name; which is said to signifie a Second Plantation: and being situate at the foot of so high a Mountain, occasioneth some of the Jews to think that the Ark rested not farre off, as perhaps it did not. 12. Maran•, in the Extremity of the Countrey, but of lesser note.

The first Inhabitants hereof were the posterity of Madai, as before was said; Ragan the sonne of Phaleg taking up those parts which lay next Assyria. Divided in long tract of time into several Tribes as the Codus•, Amariacle, Margasi, Sagartii, Debryces, Tapyri, and some others. Governed by King; immediatelly from the first Plantation: for we find that Pharnus King hereof was overthrown and slain by Ninus the grand-sonne of Nimrod: After this made subject to the Assyrians, their Kings were onely 〈◊〉 at the best but Homagers, perhaps no better than Provincial Governours under that great Monarnarchy. Of most esteem amongst them was that Arsaeus, who with an Army of 800000. men (if the number be not mistaken) incountred the Cadusii, by whom discomfited and slain. But the Cadusii so broken, that they were fain to put themselves under the power of the Persians, and so continued till the time of Arbaces, the last of these Provincials, and the first Monarch of the Medes. He living in the time of Sard•napalus, had the chance to see his Lord and Master in a womans dress, spinning among his Concubines, & otherwise behaving himself in a brutish manner, which so moved him, that he resolved to be no longer subject to so vile a Monster. Communicating his thoughts unto Belochus Governour on Babylon, and well seen in Astrology, he was incouraged to proceed; and sped so well, that having made themselves Masters of Ninive, the Imperial City (though Sardanapalus for a time put them shrewdly to it) they divided betwixt them his Estates. To Belochus fell Assyria, and Babylonia, with the Provinces of the West of Tigris: to Arba•es, Media and the rest, which now make up the Kingdome of Persia. But being a mild Prince, and desirous by fair and gentle means to assure his Empire, he confirmed the Persian Satrapaes in their former Governments; reserving nothing to himself but a titular Soveraignty. Of whom and his Successors more, when we have taken in the rest of the Provinces.

1676. A most exact and accurate map of the whole world by Donald Lupton.

XXVII. Media,

(E. Parthia and Hircania, W. Arm. major, and Assyria. N. Caspian Sea, Georgia. S. Persia. now Skeir-vun, i. e. Milky-plain, where it was a punishment for the Vulgar men to have less then seven Wives, and Women less then five Husbands; their bread of dryed Almonds, their meat wild flesh; on the North side plenty of Wines, Fruits, Cattle, especially horses on the South side; they poyson their Arrows with Oleum Mediacum, so that nothing can allay the heat of the wound but a little dust, converted by St. Thomas.) hath in it besides the River Canac, between it and Armenia major, and the Lake Argis, whose fish dryed by the wind and sun raise these People a great advantage.

1. In the inhospitable Atropatria between Taurus and the Caspian Sea, whither its thought the Jews Captived by Salmanasser, are placed

1. Bochu by the Caspian Sea.
2. Strong Lres possуssed by the Turks, as an in-let to this Country.
3. Shamaki between Lres and Derbent, notorious for a Pillar of Flint-stones, interwoven with the heads of Persian Noblemen set there barbarously in terrorem.

2. In Media, especially so called, eminent for generous horses, fat Cattle, good Corn and Wine, and and excellent Water; was

1. Ruined Ecbatana as stately as Babylon, formerly out of whose rubbish,
2. Tauris was built now Baronta under the shadow of Mount Orontes, a hundred and fifty miles from the Caspian Sea, opening S. towards a large and spacious Campagne, six miles round built of brick with flat Roofs and Battlements, as in all the East; well traded, and inhabited at least by 200000 persons, with a strong Citadel.
3. Caspin on the Ruines of Arsacia, very conveniently and pleasantly Scituated on a Riveret that serves for necessity and pleasure, but not for trade.
4. Rages.
5. Nasuana.
6. Ardoville.
7. Sultanives ruines and Mosches, environed alwayes with snowy Mountains.
8. The fair Market Tywan.
9. Turcoman.
10. Daman, i. e. a second Plantation at the foot of Taurus, where the Inhabitants think Noahs Ark rested.

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Media, an ancient and celebrated Kingdom of Asia, betwixt Armenia Major, Hyrcania, the Caspian Sea, Assyria, Susiana, &c. Where are now the Provinces of Schirvan, Gilan, Hyerach, Agemy, and Dilemon in Persia. It was in the beginning subject to the Assyrians, till Arbaces Governour of Media under Sardanapalus, King of Assyria, taking advantage of the loosness of that Prince to cast off the yoak of the Assyrian Empire, established a Second in Media in his own person, Anno Mundi 3178. according to the common Computation, one hundred years before the first Olympiad, and eight hundred seventy six before the Coming of Christ. This Monarchy of the Medes continued under nine Kings, from Arbaces to Astyages, three hundred and seventeen years: and then Astyages lost his Crown and Throne to Cyrus, Anno Mundi 3495. Anno Romae 195. in the beginning of the fifth Olympiad. The Capital City of the Medes, was Ecbatana. The others, Arsacia (now Casbin,) Cyropolis, &c. As for the name of Media, most agree to derive it from Madai, one of the Sons of Japhet.

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Media, an ancient Kingdom of Asia, very famous in old Authors. It contained most of the Country, where now are the Provinces of Servan, Gilon, Yerach, Agemi and Mazandorum, or Dilemon in Persia. The first Inhabitants are agreed, to have Descended from Madai, one of Japhet's Sons. Their Country was bounded by Armenia Major, Hircania, the Caspian-Sea, Assyria, Susiana, &c. and the Metropolis was Ecbatan. Other Towns of Note were, Arsace now Casbin, Cyropolis, &c. The Medes were formerly subject to the Assyrians, until the time of Arbaces, who being Governor thereof for Sardanapalus, and not able to endure the Effeminacy of that Prince, he shook off his Yoke, and ruined Nineve, An. Mun. 3171, 100 Years before the 1st. Olympiad, and 876 before Christ. This Monarchy lasted 317 Years under 9 Kings, from Arbaces to Astyages, Dethroned by Cyrus, An. Mun. 3495. The Proverb Mensa Medica, came from Astyages making Harpagus eat his own Son. See Harpagus.