Bactra

Bactra, ōrum (Bactrum, i, Plin. 6, 16, 18, § 48), n., = Βάκτρα,

• the chief city of Bactria or Bactriana, now Balkh, Verg. G. 2, 138; Prop. 3 (4), 1, 16; 3, 11 (4, 10), 26; Hor. C. 3, 29, 28; Curt. 7, 4, 31; cf. Sil. 13, 764; Amm.23, 6, 58.—Transf., = Bactri, the Bactrians, Verg. A. 8, 688.—
• II Derivv.
• • A Bactri, ōrum, m., the inhabitants of Bactriana, Mel. 1, 2, 5; Varr. ap. Plin. 6, 17, 19, § 52; Plin. 6, 16, 18, § 48.—
  • B Bac-trĭa, ae. f., the country of the Bactrians, Bactria, Plin. 8, 18, 26, § 67.—
  • C Bactrĭ-ānus, a, um, adj.
  • • 1 Relating to the city of Bactra, of Bactra: regio, Curt. 6, 6, 18: arx, id. 9, 7, 2: terra, id. 7, 4, 26: smaragdi, Plin. 37, 45, 17, § 65.—
    • 2 Relating to the kingdom of Bactriana, Bactrian; hence, Bactriāni, ōrum, m., = Bactri, the Bactrians, Plin. 6, 23, 25, § 92; Curt. 7, 4, 13; 7, 4, 20; 7, 4, 25; Tac. A. 11, 8; Amm.23, 6, 57.—In sing., collect. for the land of Bactriana, Tac. A. 2, 60.—Also, Bactriāna, ae, f. (sc. terra), = Bactria, Plin. 12, 9, 19, § 35. —
  • D Bactrīnus, a, um, adj., Bactrian: camelus, Ap. Met. 7, 14, 4.—
  • E Bac-trĭus, a, um, adj., the same: Halcyoneus, Ov. M. 5, 135.

Bactra, ōrum, n. (Βάκτρα), die Hauptstadt von Baktriana am Baktrusflusse, das j. Balk, Hor. carm. 3, 29, 28. Curt. 7, 4 (18), 31. Amm. 23, 6, 58: meton., die Einwohner der Stadt Baktra, Verg. Aen. 8, 688. – Nbf. Bactrum, ī, n., Plin. 6, 48. – Dav. a) Bactrī, ōrum, m., die Einw. der Stadt Baktra od. des baktrischen Reichs, Varr. fr., Mela u. Plin. – u. dav. Bactria, ae, f. = Bactriana (s. unten), Plin. 8, 67. – b) Bactriānus, a, um (Βακτριανός), zur Stadt Baktra od. zum Reich Baktrien gehörig, baktrianisch, arx, Curt.: regio od. terra = Bactriana (w. s.), Curt. – subst., α) Bactriāna, ae, f. (Βακτριανή), die Landschaft Bactriana (eine der östl. Provinzen des persischen Reichs, das heut. Balk), Plin. 12, 35: Bactriana ulterior, Oros. 3, 23. – β) Bactriānī, ōrum, m., die Bewohner von Baktriana, die Baktrianer, oft bei Curt. u.a.: meton. = Bactriana (s. vorh.), Curt. 7, 4 (17), 25: ebenso (kollektiv) Sing. Bactriānus, ī, m. bei Tac. ann. 2, 60. – c) Bactrīnus, a, um, baktrinisch (= baktrisch), camelus, Apul. met. 7, 14.

2 Bactra, (11) ōrum, n. , Bactres [capitale de la Bactriane] : Virg. G. 2, 138 ; Hor. O. 3, 29, 28 ; Curt. 7, 4, 31.

BACTRA

BACTRA (τὰ Βάκτρα, Strab. xi. pp. 513, 516, &c.; Βάκτρα Βαδίλειον, Ptol. 6.11.9; Arrian, 4.7. 15; Dion. Perieg. 10.734; Βακτρίον and Βάκτρα, Steph. B.; Bactra, Curt. 7.4; Plin. Nat. 6.15; Virg. Georg. 2.138; Bactrum, Plin. Nat. 6.16), was one of the chief towns, if not the capital, of the province of Bactriana. It was one of the oldest cities in the world; and the modern Balkh, which is believed to occupy its site (Burnes, Bokhára, vol. 1. p. 237), is still called by the Orientals Omm‘ ul-belád or the mother of cities.T here has been some doubt, both in ancient and modern times, with regard to the name. Strabo (11. p. 513) and Pliny (Plin. Nat. 6.18) evidently considered that Bactra and Zariaspa were one and the same. Arrian (4.7, 22) distinguishes between the two, though he does not definitely state their relative positions. Pliny (l. c.) adds that the appellation of Bactrum was derived from the river on which the town was situated; though this view, too, has been questioned. [BACTRUS] Curtius (Curt. 7.4) places it on the Bactrus, in a plain below the Paropamisan range. Ptolemy (Ptol. 6.11.9) merely states that it was on the banks of a river, without giving any name to the stream. Alexander the Great appears to have passed the winter of B.C. 328--327 there, on his return from Sogdiana, as, early in the following spring, he commenced his invasion of the Panjáb. (Arrian, 4.22; Diod. 17.83; Curt. 7.5, 10.) Burnes speaks in the highest terms of the accuracy of the Roman historian. The language of the most graphic writer,s ays he, could not delineate this country with greater exactness than Quintus Curtius has done.( Bokhára, vol. i.p. 245.) At present, Balkh is about 6 miles from the mountains, and the river does not actually pass its walls. Heeren (Asiat. Nat. vol. 2. p. 29) has dwelt at considerable length on the natural and commercial advantages of the position of Bactra and of its neighbourhood; and has shown that, from very early times, it was one of the great commercial entrepôts of Eastern Asia. (Burnes, Bolkhára, vols. i. and ii.; Wilson, Ariana; Heeren, Asiat. Nat. vol. ii.)

[V]

Bactra

(τὰ Βάκτρα) or Zariaspa. The modern Balkh. The capital of Bactria, at the northern foot of Mount Paropamisus (the Hindu Kush).

Bactra Bactra, in the eastern part of the Persian empire

• still to be subdued by Cyrus: Hdt. 1.153
• tribute paid to Persia: Hdt. 3.92
• conquered peoples exiled thither: Hdt. 4.204, Hdt. 6.9
• Bactrians in Xerxes' army: Hdt. 7.64, Hdt. 7.66, Hdt. 7.86
• with Mardonius: Hdt. 8.113
• Masistes' plan for a Bactrian revolt: Hdt. 9.113