Parthian history. This account is contemporary, and when it deviates from strict fact because of personal bias the change is fairly evident. Of other classical sources, among the most valuable for Parthian history are the works of the Jew Josephus. Time after time from numismatic or written sources Josephus can be proved correct, even against such factually accurate writers as Tacitus. Passages in Josephus containing apparent errors can often be understood when considered as brief resumes which omit much not directly connected with the main thread of the narrative. Josephus utilized the works of another oriental, Nicolaus of Damascus; his first edition of the Jewish War was prepared for Jews living under the Parthian empire. Babylonian Jews were passing to and fro across the frontiers, and Josephus was probably able to correct and supplement his sources from them. Possibly the story of Anilaeus and Asinaeus represents such firsthand information.[1]
The brief notices concerning Parthia in Velleius Paterculus have an especial value, since he was with Gaius in the east. In the Stratagems of Frontinus there are several detailed references to military events of the period from around 50 b.c. to a.d. 50, based on excellent and extensive accounts. The difficulty in dealing with these is one common to all such isolated bits of information, namely that of placing them in the narrative.
- ↑ On the sources used by Josephus see Eugen Täubler, Die Parthernachrichten bei Josephus (Berlin, 1904).
