'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎141] (196/905)

CHAP. VII.] ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY.
141
moderns from Madai, 1 and the capital appears to have been Ancient cities,
Samunis. 2
In addition to this city, there were those of Cyropolis,
Eres, or Aras (now called Arisban), Sequi, and Giavat. 3
This tract would seem to be the second, or new Media; and
if so, some of the existing geographical difficulties respecting
the different districts bearing this name might be removed :
the inhabitants would naturally have preserved the original
appellation as they advanced northward; and as late as two
centuries ago this district was called Northern Media, to
distinguish it from the province beyond the Araxes. 4 The
use of the word Spaco 5 by the people living on the shores of
the Caspian, 6 indicates a Median origin; and in the district of
Laghiche there is another branch from the same stock : these,
like the Chalybes, are exclusively occupied with iron and
copper works, 7 The Medes were originally called Arii ; 8 and ami religion,
their more southern origin may be traced in the worship of
Jupiter, the sun, moon, earth, and Venus. 9 The last deity
was borrowed from the Assyrians, which indicates that they
were the descendants of one of the bands which quitted
Shinar to settle in the valleys of Georgia and Armenia, 10 or
in the Chus of the Caucasus, 11 which extended from lake
Urumiyah to the Caspian Sea. This territory formed the
eastern and principal part of Albania; a kingdom in which
26 languages were spoken, and sufficiently powerful to oppose
Pompey with 72,000 men. 12 It likewise formed part of the
immense empire of Armenia; 13 but the present name of
Shirvan only dates from the conquest by Khosroo Nushiravan
in the sixth century.
I Genesis x, 2. 2 Ogilby's Asia, p. 9. 3 Ibid., p. 10.
4 Media Atropatene, the great Media.—Ibid., p. 9.
5 Herodotus, lib. I. c. ex.
6 Aperqu, &c., Tome III., p. 197 to 296.
7 Ibid., p. 91 to 136.
8 Herodotus, lib. VII. c. Ixii.
9 Ibid., lib. I. c. xxxi.; and especially the Moon.—Strabo, XI., 503.
10 Des Guignes, Hist, des Huns, Vol. I., p. 3.
II K'housdi K'habgokh, or Media near Armenia and the Caspian.— St.
Martin, Memoires sur I'Arra&iie, Tome II., p. 311.
4 12 Strabo, XL, 502, 503. 18 See Chap. V.