The Achaemenid period. The Armenians probably originated from Phrygia Herodotus 3. Meineke, Berlin, [repr. Graz, ], s. In the first half of the 6th century B. The conquests of Cyrus the Great made them subjects of the Persians. The Greek authors also use them. They bear no relation to the names Hay pl. Armina under Darius and Xerxes had much narrower boundaries than the future Armenia of the Artaxiads and the Arsacids.
The Armenians in the strict sense must then have lived in areas between Cappadocia, the Tigris, the Euphrates, and the lake of Van.
Their costume resembles the Median dress of the first delegation G. In the army of Xerxes the Armenians were marshaled with the Phrygians and were similarly dressed Herodotus 7.
The royal road passed through Armenia for a length of 46 parasangs with 15 post-stations Herodotus 5. Osborne in Historia 22, , pp. Xenophon has also left observations about the inhabitants, mainly those of Western Armenia.
The villages were administered by local notables called comarchoi who mediated between the people and the Achaemenid authorities. Although the lifestyle was rough, the countryside showed signs of prosperity. Horse breeding flourished, and the annual tribute to the Great King was paid in foals ibid. According to Strabo Significantly there is no mention of urban life.
