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Arachosia

Eastern province of the Persian empire, around modern Kandahar, 6th-5th century BCE

In the game: Level 4: The Terrace, Level 5: The Charter

Arachosia was an eastern province of the Achaemenid empire, in the region of modern Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. Darius's inscriptions name it among his lands, and it was the scene of fighting in the revolts of 522-521. His Susa charter names it as one of the places that supplied ivory.

In the game: The game names Arachosia only in the Chronicle and in the Vahyazdata and Susa charter articles, as an eastern province and a source of ivory. It has no mechanic of its own.

A province in the Darius lists

In the record

Arachosia (Old Persian Harauvatish) is named in Darius's lists of lands, including the Behistun inscription and the tomb inscription DNa. It lay far to the east of Persis, in the Helmand and Arghandab valleys. Its name is linked to the river Harauvati.

DB §6; DNa

The Susa charter and ivory

In the record

In the foundation charter of the palace at Susa, Darius says that ivory used in the building was brought from Ethiopia, from Sind and from Arachosia. Arachosia was therefore one source among three. The charter also names the craftsmen who worked the ivory.

DSf

The fighting in Arachosia

In the record

At Behistun Darius says that Vahyazdata, the false Bardiya in Persis, sent an army against Vivana, whom Darius had made satrap in Arachosia. Darius reports battles at Kapishakanish and at Gandutava, and says his side prevailed. The text is Darius's own account and was written to justify his rule.

DB §§45-47

Arachosia in Herodotus

Ancient account

Herodotus's tribute list of the satrapies does not name Arachosia as a district. Some of its people may stand under other names in his list of the eastern peoples. Later writers such as Arrian describe the region in Alexander's time, long after the period of the game.

Herodotus 3.89-95

Reading the tribute lists

Disputed

Herodotus's tribute districts do not match the Persian lists of lands, so historians disagree about how eastern provinces such as Arachosia were grouped. Some think the satrapies were administrative units distinct from the lists of peoples carved on royal monuments. The exact boundaries of Arachosia are not settled.

P. Briant, From Cyrus to Alexander, 2002