Alexander in the East
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:59 am
Dear Susan and Sikander,I am greatly excited by the report of grand new archaeological finds in the Jiroft/Djiroft/Kerman area. Andrew Lawler and the veteran Lamberg Karlowsky have described it in glowing terms as it shows that like Iraq and India, Iran also had a Bronze Age Civilization which is very ancient. I take some satisfaction from the fact that in a sense I had anticipated this and had written about the importance of this area in my book long before these new discoveries came to light. Remember AlexanderGÇÖs days in the palace of Kirman and his victory over the Indians? I have identified Kohnouj in this locality with ancient Kanauj of the Indian texts which was Palibothra. I think Marco Polo had also written about an ancient palace in this locality. Herodotus had written that there was a Pasargada tribe in Kerman. This is more ancient than Pasargada near Persepolis. Anshan must now correspond to Anga of the Indian texts. The western outpost of this civilization was Der.With best regards,
Dr. Pal
Dr. Pal