PAROPAMISADAE(Παροπαμισάδαιor Παροπανισάδαι, Strab. 16. p. 691, &c. Diod. 17.82Arrian, Anab. 5.3; Ptol. 6.18; Paropamisii. Mela, 1.2.5), the collective name of a number of small tribes who lived alone the, spurs of the great chain of the Paropamisus ( Hindú Kúsh), and chiefly along its southern and eastern sides. The district they inhabited, which was called generally ἡ Παροπαμισάδων χώρα (Arrian, Arr. Anab. 5.3), was bounded on the W. by Ariana, on the N. by Bactriana, on the E. by the Indus and Panjdib, and on the S. by Arachosia. It comprehended therefore the whole of Cabulistán, and a considerable portion of Afghanistán. The two principal rivers of this district were the Dargamenes (now Gori) and Cophen ( Cábulriver). The population appears to have been a free independent mountain race, who never till the time of Alexander had been compelled to submit to a foreign ruler. During the Persian dominion of Asia, as the Paropamisadae are not mentioned, it may be-presumed that they remained unsubdued. Their chief tribes were the Bolitae (perhaps Cabolitae, the inhabitants of Cábul), the Ambautae, Parsii, and Paryetae or Pargyetae (Ptol. 6.18.3). Their chief towns were Ortespanum ( Cábul), Alexandreia (perhaps Bamián), Gauzaca, and Capissa or Caphusa. The valleys between the mountains, though exposed to great cold during the winter, were very fertile. (Strab. 16. p. 725; Curt. 7.3.15.)
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