Strabon

Strabon (64 BC - 19 AD) is a Greek geographer, historian, and philosopher, considered one of the most important writers of Antiquity. He is known by the title "Strabon of Amasya" because he was born in Amasya in 63/64 BC and wrote his works in Greek (Ancient Greek) (Vol 1, p. 30).

Works

Strabon's most famous work is Geographika [Geography], a seventeen-volume geographical study. In addition, as learned from himself in the introduction to the Geography book and later from some ancient writers, it is known that he also wrote a work titled Historika Hypomnemata [Historical Notes], which has not survived to the present day (Vol 1, p. 30).

Importance for Kurdish History

Geographika holds special importance for the ancient period of Kurdish history, as it contains certain information exclusively within its own text. Strabon mentions that the Eretrians were relocated to Gordyene by the Persians, while the remaining ones stayed in Antakya (16.1.25 and 16.2.5). This information is mentioned only by Strabon and does not appear in any other source (Vol 1, p. 31).

A tribe referred to as Mardlar/Amardiler is given extensive coverage for the first time in Strabon's work. Strabon refers to this group as a Persian tribe, and he is the first to associate the Mardlar with a specific geography. In Geographika, the Mardiler are first associated with the Hyrcania region along with the Anariakiler (11.6.1-2); further in the same section, Strabon mentions the Amardiler, who live on the borders of the Media and Armenia mountains, along with tribes such as the Gelae, Cadusii, Vitii, and Anariake (11.6.4-7) (Vol 1, p. 31).

Strabon's work also indirectly serves as a source for discussions related to Kurdish history. Briant, concluding that the Kardakes group, whose Persian equivalent is Kurtaš, encompassed various ethnic affiliations, points out, referencing Strabon's Geographika, that this group consisted of infantry forces prominent for their physical attributes in the Persian army (Vol 1, p. 28).