that the standards be restored, but it was a number of years before the Romans actually received them.
Coins of Attambelus II of Characene overstruck by Phraates about this time show that the former had suffered some defeat at the hands of his overlord.[1]
In the spring of 26 b.c.[2] Tiridates evidently advanced down the Euphrates with unexpected speed, for Phraates was forced to kill his harem on a little island a short distance south of Belesi Biblada (Kalat Bulak).[3] Perhaps at this time Tiridates struck the coins with the unique legend ΦΙΛ□ΡΩΜΑΙ□.[4] Tiridates must have reigned but a very short time, for his only
- ↑ G. F. Hill, "Greek Coins Acquired by the British Museum in 1926," Num. Chron., 5th ser., VII (1927), 207.
- ↑ The following table, drawn from McDowell, Coins from Seleucia, p. 185, lists the known tetradrachms from Mesopotamia bearing dates from 26–25 b.c. assigned to Phraates IV and Tiridates II:
Phraates IV April, 26 b.c. Tiridates II May, 26 b.c. Phraates IV Aug., Sept., and Nov., 26 b.c. Tiridates II March, 25 b.c. Phraates IV May, 25 b.c. - ↑ Isid. Char. Mans. Parth. 1.
- ↑ Wroth, Parthia, p. 135. The reference in Horace Sat. ii. 5. 62 should be dated about this time.
would be barely sufficient for Tiridates alone, to say nothing of the envoys, to reach Spain and return. Since Tiridates' coins stop in March, 25, the above interpretation of Dio liii. 33. 1 solves the problem usually created by dating the passage to 23 b.c. All of Justin xlii. 5. 6 may by erroneous, or he may have misplaced the incident of the kidnaping of the son. This type of error is even more common in Justin than one of fact. If the foregoing argument is accepted, we must date the return of Phraates' son between 29 and 26 b.c.
