cenaries. There he hoped to find support among those long-time friends of Parthia, the tribes to the east of the lower Caspian Sea, for he felt sure that the Parthians would soon tire of a ruler set up by Rome.[1]
Meanwhile Vitellius urged Tiridates to seize his kingdom while opportunity offered, and to this end conducted him with legions and allies to the banks of the Euphrates. After sacrifices were made and the omens found favorable, a bridge of boats was thrown across the river and the army passed over it to Parthian territory. There they were met by Ornospades, a Parthian who had served under Tiberius and had thus won Roman citizenship.[2] Shortly afterward Sinnaces arrived with more troops, and Abdagases brought the royal treasure and ornaments.
The Greek cities of Mesopotamia, such as Nicephorium and Anthemusia, and the Parthian cities, such as Halus and Artemita,[3] all welcomed Tiridates, who was apparently acceptable to the Greeks, the nobility, and the pro-Romans. Seleucia received him
- ↑ Tac. Ann. vi. 36; Josephus Ant. xviii. 100.
- ↑ Tac. Ann. vi. 37; cf. Rawlinson, Sixth Mon., p. 234. Ornospades was not yet satrap of Mesopotamia, an honor which he received after he rejoined his king.
- ↑ This distinction between Greek and Parthian cities is made by a number of ancient authors. Besides cities given above from Tac. Ann. vi. 41, Isid. Char. Mans. Parth. 1–3 mentions Ichnae, Nicephorium, Artemita, and Chala as Greek cities. Note that Artemita is called both Greek and Parthian; on its location see T. Jacobsen in Four Ancient Towns in the Diyala Region, a forthcoming Oriental Institute Publication.
