Zarinaea


Zarinaea, also referred to as Zaranya and Zarina was a Sacae woman ruler, the sister of Cyraedus, and the wife of Marmares, ruler of the Parthians. Zarina was the "czarina" of the city which was located on the shoreline of the river of Syr Darya, nearby the city of Sighnaq. She was noted for her beauty, wisdom, and her bravery, as Sacae women went into the field with men. According to the Sacaen rules, when the girl turned 13 she was taught the archery and hunt. When the war broke out between the Medians and the Parthians and Sacae, she fought in battle and was wounded. Ctesias related her story towards the end of the 5th century B.C.E.
Ctesias described the love story of Zarinaea and the Mede prince Stryangaeus. However, Zarinaea and Stryanaeus could not be together despite their mutual feelings.
Alternate spellings are Zareena and Zarinah with shared roots with Zareen and Zarin.