Carmanian

Carma´Nian (Vulg. Carma-nianus, for the Gr. text is not extant), an inhabitant of Carmania (occurring in the Bible only in 2 Esdr. 15:30, where the Carmanians are predicted as the ravagers of Assyria), an extensive province of Asia along the northern side of the Persian Gulf, extending from Carpella (the present Cape Bomareek, or else C. Iask) on the E. to the river Bagradas (now Nabend) on the W., and comprehending the modern coast-line of Kirman, including Larstan and Moghostan. SEE PERSIA. It was rugged, but fruitful, and inhabited by a warlike race (see 'Smith's Dict. of Class. Geogr. s.v.). They are described by Strabo (15, p. 727) as worshipping Ares alone of all the gods, to whom they sacrificed an ass. None of them married till he had cut off the head of an enemy and presented it to the king, who placed it on his palace, having first cut out the tongue, which, was chopped up into small pieces and mixed with meal, and in this condition, after being tasted by the king, was given to the warrior who brought it and to his family to eat. Nearchus says that most of the customs of the Carmanians, and their language, were Persian and Median. Arrian gives the same testimony (Ind. 38), adding that they used the same order of battle as the Persians. SEE ASIA.

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.