Qumis (region)

Qūmis (قومس; Arabized form of the Persian name کومس Kōmis or کومش Kōmiš; Ancient Greek: Κωμισηνή Kōmisēnē; Old Armenian: Կոմշ Komsh), was a province in pre-Islamic Persia, lying between the southern Alborz chain watershed and the northern fringes of the Dasht-e Kavir desert.[1] In Sassanian period, it was separating the provinces of Ray and Gurgan.[2] Qumis remained a small province of medieval Islamic Persia. Its western boundaries lay in the eastern rural districts of Ray, while in the east it marched with Khurasan. It was bisected by the Great Khurasan Road, along which was situated the major cities of (from west to east) Khuwar (Choarene; modern Aradan), Semnan, Shahr-i Qumis (or "Hecatompylos"; the administrative capital; modern Damghan), and Bistam. and in its southeastern extremity was located the town of Biyar (modern Beyarjomand).[1]

In 856, an earthquake centered in Qumis killed around 200,000 people. It was one of the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history.

There are remains of several Ismaili castles in the region (notably Gerdkuh), most of which were captured by the invading Mongols.

The name "Qumis" started to become obsolete from the beginning of the 11th century. Currently, the region is divided between the modern provinces of Mazandaran and Semnan.[1]

References

1. Bosworth, C. E. (1986). The Encyclopaedia of Islam. V (New ed.). Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 377–378. ISBN 9004078193.
2. Wiesehöfer, Josef (Kiel). "Comisene." Brill's New Pauly. Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider. Brill Online, 2015. Reference. 17 August 2015 <http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-new-pauly/comisene-e619040>