Editing Arash (section)

==Origins of the name==
Although several sources (e.g. [[al-Biruni]]) appear to have considered 'Arash' to be the origin of the name 'Arshak' (i.e. [[Arsaces]]), the name of the [[Parthian Empire|Parthian dynasty]] derives from a [[Parthian language|Parthian]] or [[Eastern Iranian languages|Eastern Iranian]] equivalent of 'Ardashir', i.e. 'Artaxerxes', specifically [[Artaxerxes II]], from whom the Arsacids claimed descent. (Within the scheme of the mythologically conflated genealogies of Iranian dynasts, the Arsacids also claimed to descend—via the other Arash—from [[Kai Kobad]].)

As is typical for names from oral tradition, there are numerous variations of 'Arash'. In the [[Avesta]] the name appears as 'Erekhsha' (''Ǝrəxša'') "of the swift arrow,<!--(''khshuuivi.ishush'')--> having the swiftest arrow among the Iranians" (''[[Yasht]]'' 8.6). This [[Avestan]]-language form continues in Zoroastrian [[Middle Persian]] as 'Erash' (''Bundahishn'', ''Shahrastanha-i Eran'', ''Zand-i Vahuman Yasht'', ''Mah i Frawardin''), from which the anglicized 'Eruch'<!-- i.e. from the Indian Zoroastrian form --> derives. [[New Persian]] forms include 'Erash' and 'Irash' in [[al-Tabari]] and ibn al-Atir; Aarashshebatir in al-Tabari; 'Arash' in al-Talebi; 'Aarash' in Maqdesi, Balami, Mojmal, Marasi, [[al-Biruni]], and in the [[Vis o Ramin]] of Gorgani. Names with a stock epithet representing the Avestan "swift arrow" include al-Tabari's 'Aarashshebatir' and Mojmal's 'Arash-e Shewatir'. A surname form includes 'Arash/Aarash kaman-gir' "Arash, bow-expert." Also it’s a common name for people that lived there.