History of Armenia, by Father Michael Chamich; from B. C. 2247 to ...

60 HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
padocia, Pontiis, Lazicia, Chaldcea and Egeria.
They became his tributaries. Returning from
these conquests he visited the country of the
Taics, built a summer residence at the foot of
Mount Paharian, and afterwards returned to his
3857; city Nisibis. Valarsaces at this period, being- in
profound peace, expressed a desire to know the
origin of the Armenians, who had boasted of
greater antiquity than his nation ; also what
events had taken place in their country, and the
different races of their princes. He searched
diligently for some time, but found nothing
recorded on these subjects, except in some few
old songs, where there were some things related
of this nature, but so obscured by allegory,
that nothing satisfactory could be gathered from
them. lie at length resolved to consult the old
Chaldean manuscripts, and for this purpose
obtained the assistance of a verv learned man, a
Syrian, named Maribas Catina, which signifies
Ibas the witty, who was quite conversant in
the language of both Chaldeans and Greeks.
This man was sent by Valarsaces with a letter
to his brother Arsaces at Nineveh, requesting
the latter to permit the bearer to examine the ancient
manuscripts lying there, for the purpose of
extracting from them whatever might be found
relating to the Armenians. Arsaces, on receipt
of the letter complied with the request, and even