The Greeks in Bactria and India c9.s1.66

c9.s1.66

Another very important city whose name is lost is Prophthasia in Seistan (Drangiane or Zarangiane), though in this case the name can be recovered. The old Persian capital of Seistan, known as ‘The Zarangians’,¹ was on or near the Hamun lake; Alexander founded a city at ‘the Zarangians’ to be the capital of Seistan² when he detached it from Arachosia, but the old name, as was usual, came back again; the place is Zarin of Isidore, Aris of the Peutinger Table³ whence several roads started, the mediaeval Zarang. Prophthasia, ‘Anticipation’, was only a nickname, in allusion to Philotas’ conspiracy; the official name, Alexandria, has been preserved by the Chinese historian Pan-ku, who called Seistan O-ik-san-li, a word which has been shown to be Alexandria (see p. 347). That Prophthasia did stand on or near the Hamun lake and not at Farah is both certain⁴ and important (p. 49).