Ionians in Bactria?

[WinsingtonIII]

My sources confirms it but it says Inner Asia.

That plus the reference to the Persian Gulf would seem to suggest Mesopotamia (or southern Iran) as opposed to Baktria.

[DeathFinger]

Quintus Curtius Rufus tells us about the Branchidai of Milet, who were exiled in Bactria for safety by Xerxes, because they supported the Persians. They are said to have been met by Alexander when he was here, and being killed by vengeance (Life of Alexander VII. V, 28-35). Of interest is the passage when Curtius says that they have kept the uses of their homeland, but spoke the double language and were half-blooded. We cannot be sure if the story of the Branchidai even has something right, but at least it shows that it certainly existed some communauties deep inside Persian empire.

This is also reflected in the Chinese name for the place, "Da-Yuan", (Great Ionia).

This is not a consensus. Here from Tarn, The Greeks in Bactria and India, 1938 (not up-to-date but Tarn keeps to be a pillar in this kind of matter)

Naturally I agree with those who have said that Ta-yuan does not mean 'the great land of the Yavanas'; it is enough that the Ch'ien-han-shu knows of a 'little Yuan', Siao-yuan, in the Tarim basin, which had nothing to do with Greeks3

3=Wylie p. 28, de Groot p. 64 (Sao-wan). The latter (p. 12) says there is no traceable connection between Ta-wan and Sao-wan; all the less likely, therefore, is it that yuan (or wan) should be Yavana

Sure we can wondering what was called Yavana by the Chinese and Hu peoples, but at least we cannot took this name like a proof of Greek presence here.

[lolpah]

Thanks to everybody for answering. So, from what I have read here, there are some sources which confirm it but there is noe nough evidence. Though, it would make sense given the amount of greeks in the Bactrian Kingdom.

[Hax]

My sources confirms it but it says Inner Asia.

Intriguing. "Inner Asia" from a modern perspective would probably correspond to the Tajikistan/Uzbekistan/Afghanistan area, but the mention of the Persian Gulf would remind me of either current-day Basra or perhaps Pars. Still, it would be kinda odd for the Persians to move a people to their homeland.

This is not a consensus. Here from Tarn, The Greeks in Bactria and India, 1938 (not up-to-date but Tarn keeps to be a pillar in this kind of matter)

Aah, interesting. Thank you.

Apparently, I was wrong. My apologies.

[Vaginacles]

Uh Eastern peoples referred to all greeks as Ionians since it ultimately kame from the Persian word for Ionian. So Ionians in Bactria might just be a linguistic mistranslation.

[DeathFinger]

Yes, the word Yauna/Yawna means "Greek", probably because the first Greeks met by the Persian presented themselves as Ionians. Nevertheless, speaking of exil made by the Persians, there's more chance that they deported Ionians than Greeks of Europe, for obvious reasons ;)

[Atraphoenix]

Yes, the word Yauna/Yawna means "Greek", probably because the first Greeks met by the Persian presented themselves as Ionians. Nevertheless, speaking of exil made by the Persians, there's more chance that they deported Ionians than Greeks of Europe, for obvious reasons ;)

Yuana is used for all Greeks for the factions who are interacted with Persians, for example Turkish.
Interestingly, the word "Saka" or "Scythian" is used nearly for all the steppe people by Greeks.
Misconceptions are everywhere

[Populus Romanus]

Quintus Curtius Rufus tells us about the Branchidai of Milet, who were exiled in Bactria for safety by Xerxes, because they supported the Persians. They are said to have been met by Alexander when he was here, and being killed by vengeance (Life of Alexander VII. V, 28-35). Of interest is the passage when Curtius says that they have kept the uses of their homeland, but spoke the double language and were half-blooded. We cannot be sure if the story of the Branchidai even has something right, but at least it shows that it certainly existed some communauties deep inside Persian empire.




This is not a consensus. Here from Tarn, The Greeks in Bactria and India, 1938 (not up-to-date but Tarn keeps to be a pillar in this kind of matter)



Sure we can wondering what was called Yavana by the Chinese and Hu peoples, but at least we cannot took this name like a proof of Greek presence here.

Alexander killed those Greeks? How horrible!

[Atraphoenix]

AFAIR He gave no mercy Greek Mercenaries on Persian Armies.
War is war...

[vartan]

I never realized until this thread that I have been calling the Greeks by the name of the Ionians. Greeks I call huyn(a). As a side note, the Sarmatians and Saka we call the sarmatner and sakaraukner, respectively.

[CashMunny]

I think Alexander killed all Greeks who 'betrayed' the Macedonians to the Persians. Whether this was really rational, I don't know, because he and his father were just fresh from subjugating Hellas proper. But I think he would have claimed hegemony over all Greeks. One who betrayed his 'Greek Empire' to their ancient enemies the Persians would have been a very evil man in Alexander's eyes.

[vartan]

Why didn't Alexander slaughter all of his brethren, since only 150 years earlier their lands were the springboard from which Persian incursions into Greece took place? Oh...right.

[DeathFinger]

I think Alexander killed all Greeks who 'betrayed' the Macedonians to the Persians. Whether this was really rational, I don't know, because he and his father were just fresh from subjugating Hellas proper. But I think he would have claimed hegemony over all Greeks. One who betrayed his 'Greek Empire' to their ancient enemies the Persians would have been a very evil man in Alexander's eyes.

I don't think so. On the Branchidai matter, it was the Miletan peoples who convinced him to do so, because he hesitated. I honestly don't think that he would have in mind to punish Greeks under Persian side. Remember that nationality is a modern concept, even the "Greek" one was still very limitated at this time.