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monolith94
03-05-2009, 07:30 PM
Hey all—

Lately I've been interested in Persian history, sometimes to the point of wishing that Alexander had just mellowed out and never crossed the Bosporus. Or, better yet, that the Persians had never initially razed Athens, thus providing less incentive… anyways, I'm doing some research, and there's one thing I haven't been able to find. What the Persians called their own Satrapies. For example, the sixth satrapy was Egypt—but what name would the Persians have given it? Or did they just label them numerically?

I know that the Egyptians called their own land Kemet, but what would others have called their land? Thanks for any information on Persia you guys might have. What I would give to have seen Persepolis in all its glory!

Patito de Hule
03-06-2009, 04:25 PM
There are 23 of them listed on the Behistun inscription of Darius, however I don't know any source that gives the Persian names of them. I'm sure the cuneiform wouldn't help you. Here's a list of the 23:


[1.6] Says Darius the king: These are the countries which came to me; by the grace of Auramazda I became king of them; Persia, Susiana, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, the (lands) which are on the sea, Sparda, Ionia, [Media], Armenia, Cappadocia, Parthia, Drangiana, Aria, Chorasmia, Bactria, Sogdiana, Ga(n)dara, Scythia, Sattagydia, Arachosia, Maka; in all (there are) 23 countries.

The 1.6 refers to column 1, line 6. :)