DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45399#0019
THE PARTHIAN COINAGE.
9
ignorant what was the final issue of his wars with Tigranes. It is possible that the great
successes of Tigranes against the Parthians above mentioned may have taken place at this
time; but far more likely that Phraates used the opportunity of recovering the provinces
which Tigranes had wrested from him before Armenia had been so severely handled by
Pompeius. Phlegon tells us that Phraates III. assumed the title debs.
Phraates was murdered by his sons, Mithradates and Orodes. According to Dio,1
Orodes succeeded him; but we are justified in preferring the account of Justin, Appian and
Plutarch, that his immediate successor was Mithradates. The latter, however, would seem to
have soon disgusted, by his cruelty, the Parthian nobility, whose hereditary chief, the Surena
or Grand Marshal, recalled2 Orodes from exile, and succeeded in placing him on the throne.
For a time Mithradates managed to maintain himself in Media; but the arms of Orodes soon
expelled him hence3 also. He ssed to Gabinius, who then governed Syria, and tried to per-
suade him to reinstate him; but Gabinius found more tempting opportunities in another
direction, and declined to stir.4 Justin says that Orodes besieged his brother in Babylon,
took him prisoner, and put him to death. Whether this took place after the negociations
with Gabinius, or whether it is another and independent account os the circumstances under
which Orodes entered into his kingdom, it is now impossible to determine. In any case the
most illustrious reign in the Parthian annals opens in a sinister manner enough.
The accession of Orodes may be placed about the year b.c. 55. He had scarcely had time
to consolidate his power and reduce the great cities, which, like Babylon and Seleucia, held
out for his brother, when the great Boman army of Crassus invaded the Parthian dominions
from the west. Orodes divided his forces. Himself marched into Armenia, coming to terms
with the King of that country after a little fighting, while the Surena advanced at the head
of the Parthian mounted archers to encounter Crassus. The fate of the Boman legions is
well known, and it at first seemed probable that Crassus’ death would be followed by the total
expulsion of the llornans from Asia. While Europe was convulsed by the rivalries of Pompeius
and Caesar, and Borne was squandering the blood of her best legions in civil wars, Asia was
left almost defenceless, and the Parthian armies, under Pacorus, the son and future colleague5
of Orodes, carried all before them. Cicero, at that time proconsul of Cilicia, gives us in his
letters6 a vivid picture of the terror spread by the barbarian army. But after wintering in
Cyrrhestica the young Parthian prince was recalled (b.c. 50) by the jealousy of his father,
and the Bomans enjoyed for nine years a peace which must have been most grateful to them.
In a second and more persistent invasion, which was headed by Pacorus and Labienus, an
old general of Caesar, the Parthians penetrated still further to the west. Syria was subdued,
Asia Minor was overrun, the government of Judaea was overturned, and Antigonus set up in
1 Dio C. xxxix. 56. 2 Plutarch Cras. 21. 3 Dio C. xxxix. 56. 4 Appian, Syr. 51.
5 Pacorus is termed rex by Tacitus (Hist. v. 9), and that Tacitus is right is proved by the legend of Orodes’ coins, and the
pieces with Pacorus’ effigy. We do not know when he was associated in the government.
6 Ad diversos xv. 1-4, ad Att. v. 21.
GARDNER
2
9
ignorant what was the final issue of his wars with Tigranes. It is possible that the great
successes of Tigranes against the Parthians above mentioned may have taken place at this
time; but far more likely that Phraates used the opportunity of recovering the provinces
which Tigranes had wrested from him before Armenia had been so severely handled by
Pompeius. Phlegon tells us that Phraates III. assumed the title debs.
Phraates was murdered by his sons, Mithradates and Orodes. According to Dio,1
Orodes succeeded him; but we are justified in preferring the account of Justin, Appian and
Plutarch, that his immediate successor was Mithradates. The latter, however, would seem to
have soon disgusted, by his cruelty, the Parthian nobility, whose hereditary chief, the Surena
or Grand Marshal, recalled2 Orodes from exile, and succeeded in placing him on the throne.
For a time Mithradates managed to maintain himself in Media; but the arms of Orodes soon
expelled him hence3 also. He ssed to Gabinius, who then governed Syria, and tried to per-
suade him to reinstate him; but Gabinius found more tempting opportunities in another
direction, and declined to stir.4 Justin says that Orodes besieged his brother in Babylon,
took him prisoner, and put him to death. Whether this took place after the negociations
with Gabinius, or whether it is another and independent account os the circumstances under
which Orodes entered into his kingdom, it is now impossible to determine. In any case the
most illustrious reign in the Parthian annals opens in a sinister manner enough.
The accession of Orodes may be placed about the year b.c. 55. He had scarcely had time
to consolidate his power and reduce the great cities, which, like Babylon and Seleucia, held
out for his brother, when the great Boman army of Crassus invaded the Parthian dominions
from the west. Orodes divided his forces. Himself marched into Armenia, coming to terms
with the King of that country after a little fighting, while the Surena advanced at the head
of the Parthian mounted archers to encounter Crassus. The fate of the Boman legions is
well known, and it at first seemed probable that Crassus’ death would be followed by the total
expulsion of the llornans from Asia. While Europe was convulsed by the rivalries of Pompeius
and Caesar, and Borne was squandering the blood of her best legions in civil wars, Asia was
left almost defenceless, and the Parthian armies, under Pacorus, the son and future colleague5
of Orodes, carried all before them. Cicero, at that time proconsul of Cilicia, gives us in his
letters6 a vivid picture of the terror spread by the barbarian army. But after wintering in
Cyrrhestica the young Parthian prince was recalled (b.c. 50) by the jealousy of his father,
and the Bomans enjoyed for nine years a peace which must have been most grateful to them.
In a second and more persistent invasion, which was headed by Pacorus and Labienus, an
old general of Caesar, the Parthians penetrated still further to the west. Syria was subdued,
Asia Minor was overrun, the government of Judaea was overturned, and Antigonus set up in
1 Dio C. xxxix. 56. 2 Plutarch Cras. 21. 3 Dio C. xxxix. 56. 4 Appian, Syr. 51.
5 Pacorus is termed rex by Tacitus (Hist. v. 9), and that Tacitus is right is proved by the legend of Orodes’ coins, and the
pieces with Pacorus’ effigy. We do not know when he was associated in the government.
6 Ad diversos xv. 1-4, ad Att. v. 21.
GARDNER
2