HISTORY OF ARMENIA. Page 61
expressed pleasure at the object of his brother's search. The whole of the archives at Nineveh were then exposed to the inspection of Maribas. Having examined these papers, he found a manuscript in the Greek character with this label, "This book, containing the annals of ancient history, was translated from Chaldean into Greek by order of Alexander the Great." From this manuscript Maribas extracted, in due order, the history of Armenia, from the time of Haicus to that of Paroyr, and thence to the time of Vahey, and then returned to Valarsaces in Nisibis. This discovery afforded a deal of joy to the king, who preserved the extracts with great care in his treasury. Other books having been discovered by Maribas, containing the narrative of events to his own times, he added to the extracts from the manuscripts of Nineveh, others, which rendered the history complete. He wrote also an account of the exploits of Valarsaces and his son Arsaces. He wrote the lives of Arsaces the Parthian, and his grandson Arsaces the Great, from which it appears that we have greater claims to antiquity, and that our records are more authentic, than those of all other nations, the Hebrews or Jews excepted. Valarsaces then commenced improving the state of his kingdom and people. He divided the former into provinces, over which he appointed
