Pilgrimage, Book 4 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Of The Parthians, and Hyrcanians.
PArthia is placed by Pliny aLib.6.25.in the rootes of the hilles: hauing on the East, the Arians; on the West, the Medes; on the South, Carmania; on the North, Hyrcania, rounded with deserts. He affirmeth that the kingdomes of the Parthians were eighteene. Eleuen of them neere to the Caspian sea; and the other seuen neere the red sea. The word Parthian signifieth with the Scythians an exile. Their chiefe Citie was Hecatompylos, now (as some bMaginus.affirme) Hispaham, for the excellencie thereof called of the Persians, Halfe the World. These Scythian exiles in the times of the Assyrians, Medes, Persians, and Macedonians, were an obscure people, the prey of eueryevery Conquerour, which after seemed to diuide the world with the Romans. Their speech was mixt of the Median and Scythian: their armies consisted most part of seruants, which they held in great respect, instructing them in feats of armes. In an armie of fiftie thousand, wherewith they encountred Antony, there were onelyonly 800. free-men. The parthians cIustin.41.had no vse of gold or siluer, but in their armor. They had many wiues, whereof they were so iealous, that they forbad them the sight of other men. They performed all busines priuate and publike on horse-backe; this being the distinction of free-men from seruants. Their burial was in the bellies of birds, or dogs. Their naked bones were after couered with earth: they were exceedingly superstitious in the worshippe of their gods: a stout, vnquiet, seditious, vnfaithfull people. Arsaces, first a famous theefe, after, the founder of that kingdome, left no lesse memorie of himselfe amongst the Parthians, then Cyrus among the Persians, or Alexander among the Macedonians. The day wherein he ouerthrew Seleucus, was solemnely obserued eueryevery yeare amongst them, as the beginning of their liberty. Of him they called all their Kings Arsaces, as the Roman Emperours are named Caesars. They dAm.Mar.lib.23.called themselues the brethren of the Sunne and Moone, which are in those places worshipped. This Arsaces was worshipped after his death. They were no lesse bloudy to their brethren, when they came to the Crowne, then the Ottomans are at this day. Phrahartes eIustin.lib.42.slew thirty of his brethren, and before them, his father, and after, his sonne, rather then he would endure a possibility of a Competitor. About fVadianus. Sec fol.5.228. yeres after CHRIST, Artabanus the last Persian King being slaine by Artaxeres or Artaxares the Persian, the Empire returned to the Persians, who were thereof depriued by the Saracens; and they againe by the Tartars: and now for the greatest part vnderunder the Sophi: they had their cuppe-quarrels, striuing who should draw deepest: which custome we need not goe into Parthia to seeke. Strabo mentioneth among the Parthians a Colledge or Senate of Magi and Wise-men. Their ancient religious Rites I find not particularly related.
The Parthian affaires are thus by some gIustin.lib.41. Dion Cassius lib.4 …. Pius secundus Asia. Gramaye Parthica; P.Biz: rus Rerum Persicaram.lib.30.related. After Alexanders death, none of the Macedonians vouchsafing so meane a Prouince, Stragonor a forreiner obtained it: after which the Macedonians, contending in ciuill quarrels for the Soueraignety, Parthia wauered in vncertaintie, till in the time of Soleucus the nephew of Antiochus, Theodotus, Deputie of Cachia, entituled himselfe King: so giuing example of rebellion to the Easterne Nations, which Arsaces among the Parthians easily followed. He combining himself with Theodotus, and after his death, with his sonne strengthened himself in his new erected gouernement of two Cities. But Seleucus taking armes against him, was by him ouerthrowne in battell: which day first gaue light to the Parthian greatnesse, not vnworthily obserued therefore of their posteritie with solemnity. For Seleucus being by more important affaires called home, the Parthians had leasure to establish their hopes. Athenaeus reporteth that Arsaces tooke him prisoner, and after gentle vsage he sent him home.
After this first, came a second Arsaces, who encountered with Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus, comming against him with an armie of an hundred thousand foot-men, and twentie thousand horse. The issue was, they parted friends in mutuall league. Priapatius or Pampatius was their third King, to whom Phraates his sonne succeeded; and next, his brother Mithradates, who subdued the Medes and Helimaeans, enlarging the Parthian Empire, from Mount Caucasus to Euphrates. He tooke Demetriu. King of Syria prisoner: and died in his old age. His sonne Phraates was the fourth: on whom Antiochus warred, and the Parthian opposed against him his brother Demetrius, till then detained prisoner. But whiles he warred against the Scythians, by treason of his owne subiects he was slaine; and Artabanus his vncle placed in his roome. He also soone after died of a wound receiued in the field: and his sonne Mithridates succeeded, whom the Parthian Senate expelled and deposed. But others reckon betweene Artabanus and Mithridates, Pacorus, and his sonne Phraates. So vncertaine is the Parthian Historie; for which cause also hReade lib.1.cap.13.Scaliger blameth Onuphrius for being too peremptory in such vncertainties.
Next in order is reckoned Orodes or Herodes, who besieged his said brother Mithridates in Babylon, and tooke both it and him, and caused him to be slaine in his sight, Against him Crassus the Roman Consul (moued with couetousnes, iL.Florus lib.3. cap.11.hatefull to GOD and man, saith Florus) led the Roman Legions to winne the Parthian gold: And by the way, kIoseph. Antiq.lib.14.cap.12.passing thorow Iudaea, spoiled the sacred Treasury which Pompey spared, amounting to two thousand talents, and robbed the Temple of eight thousand talents besides. He also carried away a beame of solid gold, weighing three hundred Minae (eueryevery Minae is two pound and a halfe Roman) deliuered vntounto him by Eleazarus the Treasurer, vponupon condition to take nothing else. But Crassus violated the oath which he had giuen to Eleazarus, and carried all he liked. Many dismall lStadius in Floru….presages prohibited Crassus this expedition, as the curses of the Tribune, whom Dion, Plutarch, and Appian, call Ateius Capito. Those curses were denounced with inuocation of some vnknowne gods. Also the Roman ensignes were drowned, with sudden tempests in Euphrates: and when mPlutarch. Crassus. Liny epitome lib.106. Eutropij lib.6.Dion Cas.lib.40. Sim. Maioli dies Canic. Colloq.16.he had sacrificed to Venus, his sonne stumbled and fell, and Crassus with him. He reiected the Legates of the Parthian, alledging the former league with Pompey. Thus posting to his destruction, one Mazaras (as Florus calls him; or as Plutarch, Ariamnes; Dion, and Appianus, name him Augarus) encountred him, not with armes, but with artes and wiles, professing great hostilitie to the Parthians. Crassus following his aduice, led his armie into by-wayes and deserts, till being brought into the Parthian snares, his new guide forsooke him, and the couetous Consul with his sonne were slaine, and eleuen Roman Legions taken or left in the place. His head and periured right hand were sent by Surinas the Parthian Generall (who was said to hauehave then in the field with him twelue hundred Concubines, and a thousand Camels laden with his owne furniture) vntounto King Orodes: who contumeliously, (if contumely and merit can ioyne societie) vsed the same, powring into his iawes, sometimes greedie of that metall, molten gold. Orodes enuying Surinas the glorie of this victorie, slew him, and committed the remnants of that warre to be pursued by his sonne Pacorus, adioyning to him in that exploite Osaces. In the ciuill warres they tooke part with Pompey against Caesar. Pacorus being receiued into societie of the kingdome with his father, inuaded Iudaea, and placing Antigonus in the kingdome, captiued Hircanus. But whiles he aspired to greater hopes, hee lost himselfe and his armie, in which were twentie thousand horse-men, in a battell with Ventidius; who by a wily Stratageme, counterfeiting flight and feare, and suffering the Parthians to come vp to their tents, that they had now no space for their arrowes, effected this ouerthrow.
Pacorus his head reduced the Cities of Syria to the Roman subiection, without further war. This newes made his father madde, who before boasting of the conquest of Asia by Pacorus, now in many dayes did neither speake nor eate: but when hee once did open his mouth, all his speech was Pacorus, who still seemed present vntounto him. In this extaticall moode, Phraates, one of his thirtie soones, which he had by so many Concubines, slew him, and after them his brethren, as before is said, with a sonne also of his owne. This cruelty caused many Parthians to betake themselues to voluntarie exile, among which Monaeses prouoked nFlor.l.4.c.10. Dion lib.49.Antonius to warre vponupon this Tyrant. He did so, but with badde successe, of sixteene Legions scarce bringing the third part backe againe. Phraates, impotent and vncapable of so glorious aduentures, grew into such insolencies, that the people exiled him, and placed Tiridates in his roome; who was soone after displaced by the Scythians, and Phraates restored to his place. Tiridates fled to Augustus (then warring in Spaine) for refuge and aide, carrying with him the sonne of Phraates, whom Caesar sent backe againe to his father without any price, maintaining neither partie against the other, but allowing liberall prouision to Tiridates.
But after this, oSuetonius in vita Augusti, cap.21.Augustus going into the East, the Parthian, fearing ill measure, re-deliuered all the Roman captiues, and ensignes, and gaue hostages also, his two sonnes, with their wiues and children, and resigned Armenia to the Romans. Phraatax his sonne slew him, with greatest iniustice repaying that which was most iust, and due to his former paricide. This Phraatax, vsing incestuous acquaintance with his mother Thermusa (an Italian, whom Augustus had bestowed on Phraates, and by whose helpe he was slaine) was killed in an vprore, leauing his sonne Orodes his successor. He also in a conspiracie was killed: and Vonon pSueton. in vita Tiberij, cap.49.substituted, whom the Parthians not long enduring, forced to seeke helpe of the Romans, where he was perfidiously slaine.
Artabanus obtained the Empire, qMat. Burgklehner. thes.hist. lib.6. tom.1.from whence he was after chased by Vitellius, who placed Tiridates in the throne, which he had scarce warmed, when Artabanus recouered it, and after left to his sonne Bardanes; the Arsacian stocke being now dispossessed. This Bardanes rCornel. Tacit. Annal. lib.11.whiles he mindeth warres against the Romans is killed of his owne. Gotarzes his brother succeded to the Scepter: which he held, notwithstanding the decree of the Roman Senate for Meherdates the son of Vonon, whom he tooke and cut off his eares: Vonones was his successor, a little while, and presently after Vologaeses, his sonne. The next was Artabanus, and after him Pacorus; and in the next place Cosdroes his brother: against whom Traian warred with good successe, who extended the Roman Empire to the Indians. But Adrian renued league with the Parthian. Parthanaspates succeeded: and soone after Vologaeses, who left heire his sonne of the same name, depriued by his brother Art abanus. He being vniustly dealt with by the Romans trechery, draue them to sue for peace: which, after that Antonius sHerodiani Macrinus.the author of the breach was dead, was easily obtained by Macrinus his successor. But Artaxares a Persian preuailed better, in a third battell ouerthrowing him, and reducing the kingdome after such a world of yeares to the Persian name. Some reckon this 472. yeares from Arsaces, and 228. after CHRIST. Scaliger tIos. Scal. Canon. Isagog. li.2.reckoneth the time of the Parthian Dynastie 479. yeares. The number of their Kings after this computation is 29. They which list to see further of their warres of the Romans, may reade the Roman Authors which hauehave written the same: the summe whereof is heere presented to your view.
Cornelius Tacitus uCor. Tac.l.12.telles a merry tale (for I thinke these tragedies hauehave wearied you) and pertinent to our purpose, of a good-fellow-like Hercules, whom the Parthians worshipped. This kind-hearted god warneth his Priests in a dreame, that neere to his Temple they should set horses ready furnished for hunting, which they doe, lading them with quiuers full of arrowes. These after much running vp and downe the forrest, returne home at night blowing and breathlesse, their quiuers being emptied. And Hercules (no nigard of his venison) acquainteth the Priests at night by another vision with all his disport, what woods he hath raunged, and the places of his game. They searching the places, find the slaine beasts.
Better fellowship certaine had their Hercules then their Kings, when they inuited any to their feasts. For the King xAlbenaeus lib.4.cap.14.had his table alone and loftie, the guests sit below on the ground, and, like dogges, feed on that which the King casteth to them. And many times vponupon occasion of the Kings displeasure, they are haled thence & scourged, & yet they then, prostrate on the ground, adore their striker. They yHerodiani Macrinusworshipped the Sunne at his arising. Bardesanes zEusebius de praepar Euang.lib 6. cap.8.in Eusebius, saith of them, that to kill his wife, or sonne, or daughter, or brother, or sister (yet vnmarried) was not prohibited by the law to any Parthian, nor any way subiect to punishment. The Parthian aSucton. Caligula.5.ensigne was a Dragon; the royall ensigne a bow: their stile was, King of Kings; they ware a double crowne. They had an oyntment made of a certaine composition, which no priuate man might vse. Nor might any else drinke of the waters of Choaspes and Eulaeus. None might come to the King without a present. The Magi were in great authoritie with them. Their Rites were mixt of the Persian and Scythian. Nothing was more seuerely punished then adultery. A seruant might not be made free, nor might be suffered (except in the warres) to ride, or a free-man to goe on foot. Their fight was more dangerous in flying, then in standing or giuing the onset.
Terga bScneca in Ocdipo.conuer simetuenda Parthi.
The Parthians flight doth most affright.
They account cAm. Marcel.lib.23.them the most happy which are slaine in battell. They which die a naturall death are vpbraided with cowardise. Their fight Lucan dEucanus.describeth:
Pugna levis, bellum que fugax, turmoe que fugaces,
Et melior cessisse loco, quàm pellcre, miles:
Illita terr a dolis, nec Martem cominùs vnquam
Ausa pati virtus, sed longè tendere nerves.
That is,
Light skirmish, fleeing warre, and scattred bands,
And better soldiours when they runne away,
Then to beate off an enemy that stands.
Their crafty caltrops on the ground they lay:
Nor dares their courage come to right-downe blowes,
But fighteth further off most trusting to their bowes.
Many Cities amongst them, and two thousand Villages are said ePius secundu… Gramaye Parth.to hauehave beene ouerwhelmed with Earth-quakes. They are said to be of spare diet, to eat no flesh, but that which they take in hunting: to feed with their swords girt to them, to eat Locusts: to be false liers and perfidious: to hauehave store of wiues and strumpets. Their countrey is now called Arach; in it is made great quantitie of silkes.
Hyrcania (now called Straua or Diargument) hath on the West, Media; on the East, Margiana; on the South, Parthia; on the North, the sea, which hereof is called the Hyrcane, otherwise Caspian. Famous it hath beene, and is, for store of woods and Tygers. There are also other wild beasts. Here in the Citie Nabarca was an Oracle, which gaue answeres by dreames.
Some riuers in this countrey hauehave so steepe a fall into the sea, that vnderunder the waters the people resort to sacrifice or banquet; the streame shooting violently ouer their heads without wetting them. Iouins writeth, That the aire is vnwholesome by reason of the fennes. Straua the chiefe Citie aboundeth in traffike for Silke. The Ilands before it in the sea, were no lesse refuge to the inhabitants in the Tamberlane-tempest, then to the Italians, in the time of Attila, those places where now Venice standeth. Their Religion, as their State, both in times past and present, hath followed the Persian: of whom we are next to speake.
It is fStrabo lib.11.reported of the Tappyri, inhabiting neere to Hyrcania, That their custome was to bestow their wiues on other men, when they had borne them two or three children: so did Caeto his wife Martia, on Hortensius: and such, saith Vertomannus, is the custome at this day of the Indians in Calechut, to exchange wiues in token of friendshippe.
They had wine in such estimation, that they annointed their bodies gCaelius Rhod. lib.18. cap.28.therewith. The Caspij shut vp their parents, after they are come to the age of seuentie yeares, and there in respect of pietie (what more could the impious doe?) starue them to death. Some say, That after that age they place them in some desert, and a farre off obserue the euent. If the fowles seize on them with their talents, and teare them out of their coffius, they account it a great happinesse: not so, if dogs or wilde beasts prey thereon. But if nothing meddle therewith, it is accounted a miserable and lamentable case. The Derbices account all faults (though neuer so small) worthy of the vtmost punishment. The Earth was their Goddesse: to their holies they admitted nothing female, nor to their tables. They killed such as were aboue seuentie yeares old, calling to that bloudie banquet their neighbours, esteeming such miserable, as by disease were intercepted and taken away. Old womens flesh they eate not, but strangled, and then buried them: they likewise buried such as died before that age.