ALEXANDER THE GREAT; IN THE REALM OF EVERGETǼS

Abstract

Sistan, in the eastern half of Iran, is one of the most important archaeological regions from where archaeological sites belonging to the Bronze Age onwards have recovered in abundance. During the Achaemenids, this region was known as Dranka/Zranka that remarkably covered a vast area and population. Greeks called this vast territory as Drangiana. According to Greek historians, Drangiana consisted of two main parts: the northern part was Prophtasia and the southern was known as Agriaspǽ/ Ariaspǽ. It is said that Alexander the Great spent the winter in Ariaspǽ while on his way to conquer India. Greeks called the people of Ariaspǽ as Evergetǽ (donor). They not only helped Syrus the Great in his war against Massagetai at a time when he was suffered food shortages in the Iranian desert but, they also welcomed of Alexander the Macedonian in the winter when he was going to conquer India. So, I tried to determine the actual location of Evergetǽ realm in old Drangiana (Sistan) using historical approach which is based on Greek documents as well as archaeological surveys. During a systematic archeological survey carried out by a large team of archaeologists in the south half of Drangiana (now; Sistan) we identified about 110 Achaemenid era sites also providing further evidences for the significance in connection with the post achaemenids. So, the Evergetǽ domain can be distinguished in the delta of Rud-e Biaban that is currently deserted and uninhabited. If it is excavated in some of the sites, will get a lot of information of late Achaemenids and Greeks in this region.