Ariaca(Ancient Greek:Ἀριακὴ or Ἀριακὴ Σαδινῶν) was a region of Western India beyondBarigaza,mentioned in ancient geographical sources, usually associated with theWestern Satraps.
According to thePeriplus of the Erythraean Sea,Ariaca was part of the kingdom ofNambanus,thought to be theWestern SatraprulerNahapana:[1]
41. "Beyond thegulf of Baracais that ofBarygazaand the coast of the country of Ariaca, which is the beginning of the Kingdom ofNambanusand of all India. That part of it lying inland and adjoining Scythia is calledAbiria,but the coast is calledSyrastrene.It is a fertile country, yielding wheat and rice and sesame oil and clarified butter, cotton and the Indian cloths made therefrom, of the coarser sorts. Very many cattle are pastured there, and the men are of great stature and black in color. The metropolis of this country isMinnagara,from which much cotton cloth is brought down to Barygaza. "
— Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Chap. 41[2]
Ptolemyfurther describes Ariaca as being composed of the cities of Suppara (Sopara), Dunga, Symilla emporium (Chaul), Balepatna, Hippocura (the seat of the palace of a king, whom Ptolemy calls Baleocarus), ending before the city of Mandagora.[3]