Persis, Province
1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.
PERSIS hath on the East, Carmania; on the West, Susiana; on the North, Media; and on the South, some part of the Persian Bay or Sinus Persicus, which took name from hence. The reason of the name we have had before; this being the predominant Province which in fine gave both name and law to the rest of this Empire. It had antiently been called Cephene, but now most commonly by the name of Ears, or Farsishan; more neer to Pharas, the old name of it both in the Arabick and Hebrew.
Such parts hereof as lie towards the North are cold and hilly, not apt to bear either fruit or com•, in any plenty. Some Emeralds they find there, but not very cleer. Those parts which lie towards the Persian Gulf, of as bad a nature, though of different quality, sandy, and hot, and beareth little fruit but Dates, and few trees but Palm. But betwixt both there lieth a rich and pleasant Countrey, abounding with com, fruit, and cattell; great store of Roses, of Rose-water consequently, wherewith and with those skins which we call commonly by the name of Cordovans from another occasion, they use to furnish all the adjoining Provinces. And to make up the Character of a happie Countrey, to which nothing wanteth, it is well stored with Lakes and Rivers; the chief whereof are 1. Bagradas, which divideth this Province from Carmania. 2. Rhogomanes, by some called Araxes, now Bindimir, on whose banks stood the renowned Persepolis. 3. Orantes, dividing Persis from Susiana, where it falls into the Bay. 4. Brisoana, ending its course in the same Sea also.
Mountains of note I find not any but those which part this Region from Susiana; not known by any speciall name (for ought I can find) but of sufficient note for the difficult passages out of one Countrey into the other, called Pylae Persidis, defended by Ariobarzanes, a Noble Persian, against Alexander the Great, who was here very handsomely beaten, and forced to save himself by a close retreat. And though Alexander was shewed a By-path afterwards, whereby he fell on Ariobarzanes ere he was aware; yet he was taught by this hard lesson, that if those who kept the straits of Cilicia, and the banks of Tigris and Euphrates had made like resistance, he had not bought the Persian Monarchy in so cheap a Market.
It was divided antiently into Paraticine, bordering on Media. 2. Mardiene, joining on the Gulf or Bay of Persia. 3. Misdia, lying betwixt both. Each of which, with the severall nations intetmingled here as in other places, had their severall Cities. The chief whereof 1. Ausinza, seated on the Bay betwixt the mouths of Bagradas and Brisoana. 2. Jonacapolis, on the same Bay also, neer the influx of Rhogomanes, or Araxes. 3. Axima, more within the land, now called Lansilla. 4. Marrasium. 5. Obroatis, or Orebatis, as some Copies have it. 6. Pasarracha, in the Greek text of Ptolomy called Pasacgadt, and Pasagrada by Qu. Curtius. Memorable for the Sepulchre of Cyrus the first Persian Monarch. Which violated by a Souldier of Alexanders, in hope of finding some rich booty, he met with nothing but this modest inscription, Cyrus ego sum qui Persicum regnum consistui: quicunque ades mortalium, ne mihi tantillum telluris invideas, qua corpus meum obtegitur. The Sacrilegious Souldier though a Macedonian, put to death by Alexander. 7. Persepolis, the chief City of this Province, and of all the East, called therefore Regia Orientis, by Qu. Curtius; situate neer the banks of the River Araxet, and built for the most part of Cypress wood, the walls of the houses being made of Marble, digged out of an adjoining Mountain. Affirmed by Diodorus Siculus, who at large describes it, to be the richest and goodliest City in all the world. And well we may believe him for the richness of it, Alexander finding here 120000 Talents, in ready money for his own share, after the Souldiers had made what spoil they listed of coin, Plate, Bullion, Images of Gold and Silver, and Jewells of unspeakable value. But the chief beauty of it was the Royall Palace, built on an hill, environed with a treble wall, the first of 16 Cubits height, the second of thirty, and third of sixty; all of them of black polished marble, with stately battlements, and in the Circuit of the whole Palace an hundred Turrets; which gave to the beholders far and neer a most goodly Prospect. Nor was the inside of less beauty, than the out-side of Majesty: the Roofs thereof shining with Ivory, silver, gold, and Amber; and the Kings throne being wholly composed of Gold, and the richest Pearls. But rich and stately though it were, and one of the greatest Ornaments of the Eastern world; it was by Alexander in a drunked fit consumed with fire, at the instigation of Lais that infamous strumpet; as in revenge for so many Cities of the Greeks, which the Persians formerly had burnt in the Grecian warres. And though Alexander in his sober sense did repent him of it, and gave order that it should be re-edisied; yet did it never rise to its former height; the Conquerour dying shortly after, and that purpose with him. So ruined in the age of Qu. Curtius, (who lived in the time of Claudius Caesar), that he prosesseth vestigium ejus non inveniri nisi Araxes amnis ostendert, that no footsteps of it had been found, if not shewn and pointed out by the River Araxes, on whose banks it stood. But by the fall thereof rose 8. Shyras, now the chief City of this Province, situate in a fair large plain hemmed about with mountains, under one of which it is plealantly seated; in compass about nine miles, well built and beautified with fair Gardens and magnificent Mosques: two of which larger than the rest, are made more eminent by the addition of two Spires or Sceeples covered with a painting of Gold and Azure; the fabricks for the most part of Mosaick work, as light almost by night as day, by reason of a thousand Lamps burning nightly in them. A City (as is said by a modern Traveller) which for good wine, pretty women, peasant fruits, and a gallan People, may hold comparison with the best in P•rsia. 9. Moyown, on the North-east of Shyras, delightfully situate amongst woods and fruitfull pastures, and blessed not onely with good wine, but wholesome waters; of which last, few parts of Persia have much cause to brag. 10. Bamaraw, on the Southwest of Shyras towards Carmania, chiefly remarkable for the ruines of an antient Castle, situate on the top of a losty mountain. 11. Goyaam, a Town of a thousand houses. 12. Berry, of no great bigness, but of most esteem by reason of a fair Mosque, a School for the Arabick tongue, and the Sepulchre of one of their false Prophets; of which the Persians, besides Mahomet and Mortis-Ali, do acknowledge many.
The first Inhabitants here were of the posterity of Elam the sonne of Sem, and such who under his conduct were setled here; called from hence Elamites in the usual stile of holy Scriptures, by the Greeks and Latines, Elymaei: who spreading themselves into Susiana, and by degrees also into other Provinces, became so considerable, that the name of Elamite and Elam were of great renown: having a language to themselves distinct from that of the Medes and Parthians, as is appatent Act. 2. and comprehending under that appellation the adjoining Regions, as appears plainly in the eighth of the Prophet Damel, where Susa is said to be in the Province of Elam. How the name was changed into that of Persia, hath been shewn before. Such as continued in this Province, divided into the Tribes of the Mesabatee, Rapsit, Hippophagi, Suzaei, Megores, and Stabaei, were at first under the command of their own Princes onely: amongst which Cherdolaomer is of greatest fame, who having the conduct of some Adverture•rs of this nation, associated himself with Amramphel the leader of some Assyrian Troops: and by the name of the Kings of Elam and Assyria invaded Palestine, subdued the City of Sodom, took Lot prisoner, and in the end were overthrown by the forces of Abraham. Of no note after this expedition till the time of Perses the Father of Achaemenes, who being Provinciall Governour of these Countreys under Sardanapalus, joined with Arbaces and Belochus in the war against him: and by the victory, got for himself the dominion over those estates, which he had formerly ruled for the Assyrians; with reference to the Kings of Media as the Supreme Lords; whose Successours, till the time of Cyrus, take in order thus.
The Kings of Persis.
1. Perses, from whom perhaps the name of Persis may be more properly derived, than either from Perseus the sonne of Danae; or the sonne of that Perseus by Andromeda.
2. Achaemenes, from whom the Persians had the name of Achaementi, and the succeeding Kings were called Achaemenides.
3. Cambyses, in some places of Herodotus called also Darius.
4. Cyrus, from whose second sonne named Teispeus, descended that Darius, the sonne of Hystaspis, one of the seven Persian Princes, who got the Kingdom on the expiration of the present line, and the extirpation of the Magi; of which more hereafter.
5. Cambyses II. the sonne of Cyrus.
6. Cyrus II surnamed the Great, sonne of Cambyses and Mandane the daughter of Astyagos King of Media: who joining with Cyaxares, or Darius Medus, overthrew the Babylonian Empire; and translated thereby the Supreme power to the Medes and Persians. Of which more hereafter.