expedition had to be abandoned for one against Tigranes.[1]
In 66 b.c., under the Lex Manilia, Pompey was appointed to replace Lucullus and at once secured an agreement with Phraates to insure Parthian neutrality in the same manner as under the previous treaty. But Tigranes the Younger, after an unsuccessful revolt against his father, sought refuge with Phraates and urged him to invade that part of Armenia held by the elder Tigranes.[2] Phraates acquiesced, though with some hesitation because of his agreement with Pompey. News of the Parthian treaty with the Romans alarmed Mithradates, and he began to negotiate for a truce.
The Parthian forces advanced to Artaxata (Artashat). When the siege promised to be of considerable duration, Phraates left a detachment of his troops with the younger Tigranes and returned to his own country. Tigranes the Elder then took the field and
- ↑ Cicero Manil. 23–24; Plut. Lucullus 30; Sallust Hist. iv. fr. 72. See also PW, arts. "Licinius (Lucullus)," No. 102, and "Mithradates," No. 12. From about this time comes a tablet of the year 68 b.c. mentioning an Arshakan, king, and Pi-ir(?)-us(or -ri)-ta-na-a, his wife, queen. The king must be Phraates III; cf. Strassmaier, in ZA, VIII (1893), 112; Kugler, Sternkunde, II, 447 and n. 3; Minns, "Avroman Parchments," JHS XXXV (1915), 36.
- ↑ Cf. Dio Cass. xxxvi. 45, where the invasion of Armenia seems to have been required by the treaty with Pompey, and ibid. 51, where it is the result of the efforts of Tigranes the Younger. But since the treaty was the same as that made by Lucullus, and Phraates had misgivings about violating his agreement with Pompey, the version of xxxvi. 51 is correct. See also Appian Mith. 104. On the younger Tigranes see PW, art. "Tigranes," No. 2.
