Arīa
(
Ἀρία and
Ἀρεία). The
most important of the eastern provinces of the ancient Persian Empire, bounded on the east by
the Paropamisadae, on the north by the Margiana and by Hyrcania, on the west by Parthia, and
on the south by the desert of Carmania. From Aria was derived the name under which all the
eastern provinces were included. See
Ariana;
Persia.