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POLITICAL HISTORY OF PARTHIA

territory by the Parthian king. On September 9, a.d. 3, in the course of a parley in which Addon was to reveal the whereabouts of a treasure hoard of the Parthian ruler, he wounded the young Roman commander, and, although the city was taken by the Romans, Gaius died from the effects of his wound the next year.[1] Augustus could boast that all Armenia had been subdued,[2] and poets commemorated the return of Gaius.[3] There are some indications that this Armenian campaign was but the preliminary to an attack on the Parthians. Gaius is said to have died in the midst of preparations for a Parthian war,[4] and Augustus is reported to have contemplated expanding the boundary of the Empire beyond the Euphrates.[5]

Ariobarzanes, installed as king of Armenia by Gaius, soon died, and his place was taken by his son, Artavasdes III.[6] Phraataces did not remain long

  1. Strabo xi. 14. 6; Dio Cass. lv. 10a. 6–9; Vell. Pat. ii. 102; Florus ii. 32; Ruf. Fest. 19; Tac. Ann. i. 3; CIL, IX, No. 5290.
  2. Mon. Ancyr. v (27).
  3. Antipater of Thessalonica in Anthol. Palat. ix. 59.
  4. Seneca De cons. ad Polyb. xv. 4; Ovid Ars amat. i. 177 ff., 199 ff., 223 ff.; Remedia amoris 155 ff. and 224. The verse last cited possibly expresses disappointment over the failure of the expedition.
  5. Seneca De brev. vit. iv. 5.
  6. Mon. Ancyr. v (27). There is a Greek inscription from Susa of about this date which mentions Zamaspes, stratiarch of Susa, who was commended by Phraates for watering the gardens of the guards. Note the continued use of Macedonian titles at this late date. The inscription should be dated either 9/8 b.c., under Phraates IV, or a.d. 2/3, under