Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

THE RISE OF PARTHIA 331
Dahae, but it would be a mistake to press the point
too far.
The Chief Arsaces, who is the somewhat shadowy
founder of the dynasty, appears to have settled in Asaak ^
in the district of Astabene, which seems to be identical
with the Akhal oasis, although Gutschmid identifies it
with Kuchan ; Asaak is possibly connected with the term
Ashkani, which is invariably applied to the dynasty by
the Persians, and which survives in place-names noted by
me in this district and also as far south as Tabas.^ On
the other hand, Ashkani may be identical with the name of
the dynasty. The name Arsaces, by which the dynasty is
known to the west, is believed not to have been a personal
one, but to have been adopted deliberately in order to connect
the Turanian dynasty with the royal Achaemenian line.
It will also be remembered that Artaxerxes II. (Mnemon)
was named Arsaces, and we are expressly told that the
Arsacid dynasty was descended from Artaxerxes.^ It is
worth noting that the Achaemenian Arsaces was born
when his father was Satrap of Hyrcania and probably
also of Parthia, and this fact strengthens the theory just
mentioned.
The Birth-Tear of the Arsacid Dynasty^ 249-248
B.C.—The Parthians themselves gave for the birth-year
of their dynasty a date corresponding to 249-248
B.C. This we may believe was in memory of some
victory won by Arsaces, but it is by no means certain,
and the question is certainly not one for dogmatic pronouncement.
The Career of Arsaces /., 249-247 b.c.—The Chief
Arsaces, with whom was associated his brother Tiridates,
attacked a Seleucid representative, probably the subgovernor
of the district of Asaak, in revenge for an
insult offered to the younger brother. The official, who
is variously termed Pherecles or Agathocles, was killed,
and as, just before this period, the provinces of Bactria,
^ The House of Seleucus, 1. 285.
^ " A Fifth Journey in Persia," Journal R.G.S. for Nov. and Dec. 1906. According
to Persian historians, the founder of the Parthian dynasty was Ashk, who was descended
from the ancient kings of Iran.
2 Syncell. p. 539, quoted by Bevan in op. cit. i. p. 286.