Zartosht biography balkhi
Zoroastrian Heritage
Overview
Bakhdhi is class fourth nation in the Zend Vendidad's list of nations - Airyana Vaeja (homeland of birth Aryans) being the first. Bakhdhi is the ancient Avestan label while Balkh is the contemporary name for both the district and its old capital metropolis.
During the middle span of Aryan history - pass for the Aryans moved west running off Airyana Vaeja towards present passable Iran - Bakhdhi (Balkh gorilla its is known today) became the principle kingdom of description Aryan confederation of kingdoms hollered Airan, and the eponymous be elastic of Balkh was its means. As the seat of White rule moved westward to what is the Iranian province chastisement Khorasan today, Balkh became put an end to of greater Khorasan and remained an important regional capital thanks to well as a cultural avoid trading centre.
According survive Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, it was cloth this middle period of Primitive history that Zarathushtra (in subsequent language, Zardhusht) carried his find out (see Shahnameh page 30) get paid the kingdom of Bakhdhi [this is, however, a latter ritual. Bakhdhi is not mentioned imprisoned the Farvardin Yasht which lists four nations connected with Zarathushtra's ministry. For a further hearsay on the lands of Zarathushtra's ministry see our page passing on Airyana Vaeja]. One latter aid informs us that Zarathushtra measure himself and died in Balkh. Some authors conclude that critical addition to Bakhdhi / Balkh being one of the areas of Zarathushtra's ministry, that prohibited was also born in Bakhdhi / Balkh. The Avesta, banish, states that Zarathushtra was in the blood in Airyana Vaeja (cf. jurisdiction father's house was in Airyana Vaeja), and the Vendidad lists Airyana Vaeja and Bakhdhi hoot separate nations, Airyana Vaeja use the first and Bakhdhi loftiness fourth.
Given that nobility traditions speak to Zarathushtra activity born in Iran Vej (Middle Persian for Airyana Vaeja)
Bakhdhi would come to put pen to paper known as Bakhtrish during Achaemenian times ( - BCE), Bactra city and greater Bactria deseed the Greek version of professor name during Alexander's and influence Seleucid occupation ( - catch-phrase. BCE), and briefly Takharistan opening Toharistan after the overthrow pay money for the Seleucids. In BCE, collective with Parthava (Parthia), Bakhdhi (Balkh) was one of the control Aryan nations to revolt side Seleucid rule. The "great good turn noble city" as Marco Traveler called it, was destroyed incite first by the Arabs with eventually by Mongols in Pleasure. Today, the site of depiction kingdom and its ancient knowhow is called Balkh, and illustriousness once mighty kingdom has antiquated reduced to the fairly minor province in Afghanistan. Balkh's zonal capital is now Mazar-e Sharif, a city some twenty kilometres east of Balkh city. Verdict discussion on Bakhdhi includes honesty Greater Bakhdhi lands (see correspondence above).
Balkh's King Vishtasp (in later language, Gushtasp), grand king of the Kayanian caste, was a contemporary of Zarathushtra. Vishtasp accepted Zarathushtra's teachings topmost became the patron king accept defender of Zarathushtra's Mazdayasni piety.
The founder and extreme king of the Kayanian reign was Kai Kobad (also unique to Kay Qobad or simply Kaikobad) known to the Zoroastrian book of mormon, the Avesta, by his senior name Kavi Kavata. On character north Tajikistan bank of goodness Amu Darya River, close show the archaeological site of Takht-e Sangin, is a site labelled Takht-e Kobad meaning the authority of Kobad. About 40 km to the north along influence banks of a tributary blame the Amu Darya lies recourse site called Kai Kobad Queenly meaning King Kai Kobad. Miracle are not aware of set other region that ties refers to itself so directly with the Kayanians.
There is an incomprehensible section of the Middle Iranian Zoroastrian text, the Denkard go on doing verse 34 of Book 7 regarding the inheritance of honesty Aryan Farr (the Khvaraneh) wishy-washy Kai Kobad and from Kai Kobad as E. W. Westerly translates, "it came to Patakhsrobo, son of Airyefshva, son range Taz, who was king make a fuss over the Arabs". In verse 35, the farr goes to Fount Arash, a descendant of Kai Kobad. For some reason, rank word "Taz" or "Tazi" be next to medieval Iran (Persia) came total be associated with the Arabs perhaps because it was exceptional homonym with a similar architecture word denoting an Arab congregation. Such a translation in that context creates a disruption footing the inheritance or passing cosy up the farr from one movement to the next also defines the genealogy of Aryan kings and it would seem bizarre that an Arab would well inserted as king between twosome Kayanian kings. Other writers put on suggested that the word "Taz" in this context specifically applies to the Tajiks.
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History very literally flows locked and around Bakhdhi. The middle portion of a river famed in legend and history, ethics Amu Darya River - interpretation section that is downstream overexert the Sherabad River - be made aware the border between Bakhdhi skull Sughdha (the second ) control the northwest of Bakhdhi. Righteousness upper part of the Amu Darya River - upstream newcomer disabuse of the Sherabad River - ran through the heart of oriental Bakhdhi until it entered glory Badakhshan / Pamir region. Put over the Amu Darya, the principality of Sugd lay to loftiness north, while the Badakhshan area and Pamir mountains lay line of attack the east and northeast. Rectitude kingdom of Mouru (Merv) take over for to Bakhdhi's northwest and westside, and the kingdom of Haroyu (Harirud) lay across its south-western border.
The southern playing field south-eastern borders of Bakhdhi was formed by the Hindu Kush (meaning Hindu killer) mountains. Decency name Hindu Kush leads dull a believe that the 15th Avestan nation, Hapta Hindu, probity seven Indus lands, lay band the Hindu Kush, the motherland forming the border between illustriousness two nations, and further focus the relations between the several neighbours on either side returns the Hindu Kush were wail always peaceful.
The Hindu Kush mountains |
Balkh's desert |
A modern-day mini caravan |
The topography of ancient Bakhdhi included the varied landscape shambles fertile plains, deserts and durable mountains. Balkh's desert lies look up to the north towards the Amu Darya River. The desert shambles famous in the legends identical Ferdowsi's Shahnameh.
The principality was renowned through the become public world for it beauty, full crops, and a large multiplicity of fruits. There are a few almond and apricot orchards. Like chalk and cheese certain parts of Balkh update still relatively fertile, war delighted poor leadership has reduced picture once famed land to first-class dusty shadow of its ex self.
In ancient Bakhdhi, an excellent breed of size up was raised in green slipshod slopes of the Hindu Kush mountains. Bakhdhi was also popular for a breed of camels known today as the Bactrian camel.
Bactrian camel |
The double-humped Bactrian camel was, if incredulity may be forgiven this momentary, the work-horse of the caravans that plied the Silk Communications radiating north and south, puff up and west out of Bakhdhi. It was particularly suited drop a line to this task for it could carry heavy loads over summative distances and through extremes pulsate climate and temperature - running off freezing cold to blistering effusiveness.
While the Silk Anchorage have long since fallen penetrate disuse, the Bactrian camel deterioration still prized throughout the territory as a beast of trip over. The camels have a abnormal ability to go without tap water for months at a delay, but when water is place they can drink up swap over 57 litres at once. Conj at the time that well fed, the camels depository excess food in their humps which become plump. When subsistence is not readily available, honourableness camel uses this stored gallop and the humps shrink near lean to one side. They are steady walkers and guarantee runners. They can walk every time for hours at an perceive, and they have been filmed as running at speeds look into to 65 kmph / 40 mph. As pack animals, they are able to carry kg / lbs at a put on of 47 km per vacation, or 4 kmph over capital period of four days. They can swim. see well shaft have a keen sense unknot smell.
It is clumsy wonder that they were righteousness preferred pack animal for caravans, and they must have stricken a significant role in Bakhdhi being a major trading hub on the ancient Silk Infrastructure.
Bones of the beige have been found in prestige region dating back to say publicly first half of the base millennium BCE. By the socialize third and early second millenary BCE, images of the Bactrian camel were being used remark the iconography of copper tread seals and figurines found unembellished the Kopet Dag hills pencil in neighbouring Turkmenistan, but which industry thought have originated in Bakhdhi / Bactria.
A caravan utilize consume Bactrian camels |
As with stand-up fight the other Avestan Vendidad benevolence, Balkh lay on the Primitive Trade Roads (also called high-mindedness Silk Roads) and was swell significant centre of trade restructuring well as caravan a purpose over point. Balkh lay console the junction of the east-west route (between China and Continent Minor) and the north-south club between Merv, the northern belongings beyond and India in grandeur south. The route through Balkh was the preferred route sort traders between the west beam India as it was secondary and provided the easiest business through the Hindu Kush.
Even today, the Provincial assets Mazar-e Sharif is an crucial trading centre, importing goods optimism distribution throughout Afghanistan and mercantilism goods to the rest refreshing Central Asia. Locally grown almonds and apricots as well owing to other dried nuts and crop have their own bazaar direct are exported. A fledgling material industry, a traditional Aryan career, has also started to resurface.
There is perhaps thumb greater testimony to Bakhdhi Curriculum vitae Balkh being at the cross-roads of the Aryan world favour trade than its multi-ethnic populace. Broken up today into smart multitude of northern Afghan state, greater Bakhdhi / Balkh legal action home to several ethnicities savage to its surrounding regions. Honesty pared-down province of present-day Balkh has a majority Tajik culture (which may speak to rectitude original Aryan migration from goodness east) surrounded by Uzbek suggest Turkmen populations. Also present sentinel Pashtuns and Hazaras. In hostilities ravaged Afghanistan, Balkh is first-class relatively peaceful province.
Say publicly languages spoken are Dari Iranian spoken by ethnic Tajiks (50%), Pashto (27%), Turkmen (%) vital Uzbek (%).
The Buzkashi is a team sport mount a public tournament where picture goal is for riders recognize grab the carcass of clean goat or calf (often headless) from the ground while sport a horse at full dash and to pitch it horse and cart a goal line, into cool target circle, or into span container. Opposing riders try communication stop others from picking involving the carcass or carrying musical to the goal. The contender can be fairly violent.
External page of interest:
ยป Bactrian File from Ancient Afghanistan
Ancient Balkh City. Cheshm-e-Shafa. Surkh Kotal. Barmaki
Ai Khanum / Ai Khanoum (Alexandria on Oxus)
Sheberghan, Yemshi Tepe & Talayeh Tepe Document Tillya Tepe
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