Ariana was described as a vast stretch of land between Central Asia and Indus, a common geographical term used by ancient Greek and Roman writers for the eastern Achaemenid Empire, the easternmost point of Iran and northwestern India. Ariana is the Latin word for ancient Greek and is derived from the ancient Persian word Aryanem (Ariana). This meant --`"the Land of the Aryans", similar to the usage of the word Āryāvarta. The Greek word Arianē is derived from the term found in Iranian Avestan --Airiiana (specifically, Airyanem Vaejah, the name of the Iranian homeland). The modern name Iran represents a different form of the ancient name Ariana, which is derived from Airyanem Vaejah. The Greeks also called Haroyum/Haraiva (Herat) as 'Aria', which is one of the many provinces found in Ariana. The names Ariana and Aria and many other ancient titles, of which Aria is a component element, are connected with the Indo-Iranian word "Ariya", a self-designation of the people of Ancient India and Iran, meaning 'noble', 'excellent' and 'honourable'. According to the definition of Eratosthenes, the Ariana border was defined by the Indus to the east, the sea to the south, , a line from Carmania to the Caspian Gates (apparently referring to the pass near the southeastern edge of the Caspian Sea) in the west, and the so-called Taurus Mountains in the north. Thus the provinces of Carmania, Gedrosia, Drangiana, Arachosia, Aria, the Paropamisadae; also Bactria belonged to Ariana and was called "the ornament of Ariana as a whole" by Apollodorus of Artemita. (Info-Credit: Ariana, Wiki) [image-Credit: The Atlas of Ancient and Classical Geography by Samuel Butler and Ernest Rhys, showing Ariana in the east (yellow) based on Eratosthenes descriptions , Wikipedia]
Old World
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