Cossaeans from Alexander Conquest to Seleucid Period Based on Greek and Roman Sources (5th B.C- 2th A.D)

Kassite was an Iranian ethnic group who lived in Zagros Mountains. Many scholars believe Kassites were inhabitants in Zagros Mountains in Luristan. Probably they were the same Kassites of Babylonia who ruled on Babylonia from the ??th century B.C. to ??th century B.C. The majority of our historical and archaeological knowledge from Kassites back to prehistory. Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive information of this ethnic group in the historical period, especially from ??? to??? BC. Therefore, the lack of written resources from Zagros inhabitants is the main problem for identifying their role during Alexander conquest and Seleucid period. Greek and Roman Sources is all what we have that scanty referred to Cossaeans (Kassites). The aim of this paper is to identify the Cossaeans in Central Zagros Mountains from the Alexander campaign to the Seleucid period and their role in the area during the historical events. Two main questions in this paper will be: According to Greek and Roman sources are Cossaeans the same Kassites in Central Zagros Mountains in prehistory? And what was the role of Cossaeans during wars and historical events? This research is a historical-analytic study; based on Greek and Roman sources and library studies attempt to gather and analysis the information. Probably Kassites in Assyrian and Akkadian documents are Cissians in Greek sources and Cossaeans in Alexander’s historians’ sources. All were famous for their ability to war. They lived in Central Zagros chains. It can be said that Kassites (??th century B.C) in Assyrian documents, Cissia (?th century B.C) in Herodotus writings and Cossaeans (?-?th centuries B.C) in the historians’ texts in the time of Alexander are as several different variants of one and the same name. In addition, Cossaeans were famous for their ability to war. They fought in the side of Achaemenid Empire on the occasion of the battles of Thermopylae and Gaugamela in participate in the battles. Later, they joint to Alexander and Seleucid army as mercenaries, as well.