Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata: Upayana Parva c6.199

c6.199

Now *hara* in the compound Hārahūra meaning mountain in ancient Iranian¹⁸³ (Old Persian, *ara*; Zend. *hara*, Pehlvi, *har*) may be expressive of the mountainous nature of the country. In the sculptures of Sargon’s palace at Khorsabad, now in the Louvre Museum, certain Iranian cities are sculptured one of which is named as Harhār, which recalls modern Khalkhāl.¹⁸⁴ It was situated in the lake Urmiya region in the extreme north-west of Iran. Was the name of this city transferred at some later date to a city in west Afghānistān-Herat, Haraiva of the ancient Iranians and Aria of the classical authors? The origin of Herat must be traced from the ancient Iranian literature, before it could be finally identified with Hārahūra.