O´XII MONTES(τὰ Ὤξεια ὄρη, Ptol. 6.12. § § 1, 4), a chain of mountains between the rivers Oxus and Jaxartes, in a direction from SW. to NE., and which separated Scythia from Sogdiana. They are identified with the metalliferous group of Asferahand Aktagh—the Botom, Botm, or Botam( Mont Blanc) of Edrisi (ed, Jaubert, vol. ii. pp. 198—200). The OXI RUPES of Strabo (Ὤξου πέτρα p. 517), which he also calls the hill-fort of Arimazes (Q. Curt. 7.11), has been identified by Droysen, as quoted by Thirlwall ( Hist. of Greece, vol. 6. p. 300), with the pass of Kolughaor Derbend, in the Kara-tagh, between Kishand Hissar;but as it is called the rock of the OXUS it must be looked for on that river, and is probably Kürghan-Tippaon the Amü. (Wilson, Ariana, p. 167; Ritter, Erdkunde, vol. 7. p. 734; Humboldt, Asie Centrale, vol. ii. pp. 18—20.)
[E.B.J]