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| '''Sakastan''', '''Sakasthana''' or '''Sakasthan''' is a term indicating the south and western regions of ] and ], partly corresponding to the modern ] of Iran. It was also a province of the ]. | '''Sakastan''', '''Sakasthana''' or '''Sakasthan''' is a term indicating the south and western regions of ] and ], partly corresponding to the modern ] of Iran. It was also a province of the ]. | ||
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Sakastan, Sakasthana or Sakasthan is a term indicating the south and western regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan, partly corresponding to the modern Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran. It was also a province of the Sassanid Empire.
The area received its name from the Scythians or Sakas, an Aryan tribe which resided in the area from the 2nd century BCE, following their southward migrations ahead of the Yuezhi. The Sakas were a tribe of Aryans. During their expansion into eastern parts of Afghanistan, Sakastan came to include many other parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. From around 100 BCE the Sakas invaded the Indus valley, where they were known as Indo-Scythians.
The presence of the Sakas in Sakastan in the 1st century BCE is mentionned by Isidorus of Charax in his "Parthian stations". He explained that they were bordered at that time a Greek city of Alexandria to the east (Alexandria of the Arachosians), and the Parthian-controlled territory of Arachosia to the south:
- "Beyond is Sacastana of the Scythian Sacae, which is also Paraetacena, 63 schoeni. There are the city of Barda and the city of Min and the city of Palacenti and the city of Sigal; in that place is the royal residence of the Sacae; and nearby is the city of Alexandria (and nearby is the city of Alexandropolis), and six villages." Parthian stations, 18.
The westernmost part of these regions would later be known as the Sistan or Seistan.
Notes
| Provinces of the Sasanian Empire | ||
|---|---|---|
|  | |
| * indicates short living provinces | ||