Persia from the Earliest Period to the Arab

CHAPTER V.
Anacidae Arsakes I Tiridates I Artabanus Mithradates I
Phraates II Scythian invasion Mithradates II Progress
of the Romans Orodes Crassus Pompey Antony Tiri-
dates, son of Vologases Trajanus Avidius Cassius Severus
Artabanus Battle of Nisibis.
As already stated, with the death of Darius ends for
more than five centuries the rule of native Persian
sovereigns over more, perhaps, than the small province
of Persis : I shall, therefore, now give some account of
the Arsacidae, whose vigorous rule fills up the inter-
vening period.
It was in the reign of Antiochus Theos, the third of
the Seleucidae or Greek rulers of Syria and Meso-
potamia, and about B.C. 250, that Askh or Arsaces
slew the viceroy of Parthia, and spreading to the winds
the sacred banner of the Darafsh-i Kawdni (or Black-
smith's apron), which his uncle had saved, after the
overthrow of Arbela, marched on Rhages (Rhey), at
the same time inviting the other chieftains of his
people to join with him in a revolt against
kings of Syria.
the Greek