---
title: Iaxartes
author: Antoine Simonin
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Iaxartes/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Iaxartes
_Authored by [Antoine Simonin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/Deathfinger/)_
The Iaxartes is a river, today-called Syr-Daria, which springs west of the Pamir Mountains in Fergana (in modern Kyrgyzstan), and flows through modern Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to Lake Aral, covering a distance of 2212 km. In ancient times this river flowed through Fergana and [Sogdiana](https://www.worldhistory.org/sogdiana/), marking the border of the Central Asian Steppes. It was the backbone of the area, allowing irrigation systems in an arid area. This river also had a symbolic meaning for western civilizations, for which it marked the limit between the know civilized world south of it and the nomadic world north of it. This river had different names in different sources, such as Araxes (“rapid river”) or “Yakhsha Arta” in Persian. The [Medes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Medes/) first defined the Iaxartes as the northern border between [civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/civilization/) and nomads (such as the [Scythians](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/)), a tradition which the Persians followed. The Persian king [Cyrus the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cyrus_the_Great/) founded the town Cyropolis in 544 BC on the Sogdian side of the river, in order to make it “the frontline of the [Persian Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Persian_Empire/) against the nomads” (Strabo, XI 11. 4.). Unluckily, according to [Herodotus](https://www.worldhistory.org/herodotus/), he died next to this river, fighting the Massageate in order to make them his vassal. When [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) invaded the Persian [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/), he decided to make the Iaxartes the northeastern frontier of his empire. He built his most advanced town on the Iaxartes in 329 BC, called [Alexandria](https://www.worldhistory.org/alexandria/) Eschate (“Alexandria the farthest”). The same year he destroyed Cyropolis after the Sogdian rebellion, and won a decisive [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) against the Scythians on the Iaxartes, making this northern frontier sure until his [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/). After [Alexander](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Alexander/)’s death, the river continued to be a frontline but more and more nomad armies crossed it. The last [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) political presence seems to have been the Greco-Bactrian one, under Euthydemos’reign (c.230-200 BC). After his rule, the Iaxartes fell into the hands of [Sakas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/), Yuezhei then Kangju nomads, all of them pushing southward against the Greco-Bactrian and Parthian empires.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## About the Author
Passionate about ancient Central Asia. Maintains the website From Bactria to Taxila. Works in the Europa Barbarorum project.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoine-simonin/52/685/a9a/e)
## Timeline
- **544 BCE**: Foundation of Cyropolis on the [Iaxartes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Iaxartes/) river.
- **530 BCE**: [Cyrus II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cyrus_the_Great/) killed by the Massagetae of Tomyris' army near the [Iaxartes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Iaxartes/).
- **329 BCE**: [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) wins a decisive [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) at the [Iaxartes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Iaxartes/) river against the [Scythians](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/).
- **c. Jul 329 BCE**: [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) founds [Alexandria](https://www.worldhistory.org/alexandria/)-Eschate on the [Iaxartes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Iaxartes/) and destroys Cyropolis.
- **c. 200 BCE**: [Sakas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/) [conquer](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) the [Sogdiana](https://www.worldhistory.org/sogdiana/) part of the [Iaxartes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Iaxartes/).
## Cite This Work
### APA
Simonin, A. (2011, April 28). Iaxartes. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Simonin, Antoine. "Iaxartes." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 28, 2011. .
### MLA
Simonin, Antoine. "Iaxartes." *World History Encyclopedia*, 28 Apr 2011, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Antoine Simonin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/Deathfinger/ "User Page: Antoine Simonin"), published on 28 April 2011. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.