side. Having made this important stroke, he
met Callinicus in battle, and completely defeated his army.

This victory was with reason regarded by the Parthians as a sort of
second beginning of their independence. Hitherto their kingdom had
existed precariously, and as it were by sufferance. It could not but
be that the power from which they had revolted would one day seek to
reclaim its lost territory; and, until the new monarchy had measured
its strength against that of its former mistress, none could feel secure
that it would be able to maintain its existence. The victory gained by
Tiridates over Callinicus put an end to these doubts. It proved to the
world at large, and also to the Parthians themselves, that they had
nothing to fear--that they were strong enough to preserve their freedom.
Considering the enormous disproportion between the military strength
and resources of the narrow Parthian State and the vast Syrian
Empire--considering that the one comprised about fifty thousand and the
other above a million of square miles; that the one had inherited the
wealth of ages and the other was probably as poor as any province in
Asia; that the one possessed the Macedonian arms, training, and tactics,
while the other knew only the rude warfare of the Steppes--the result
of the struggle cannot but be regarded as surprising. Still it was
not without precedent, and it has not been without repetition. It adds
another to the many instances where a small but brave people, bent on
resisting foreign domination, have, when standing on their defence, in
their own territory, proved more than a match for the utmost force that
a foe of overwhelming strength could bring against them. It reminds us
of Marathon, of Bannock-burn, of Morgarten. We may not sympathize wholly
with the victors, for Greek civilization, even of the type introduced by
Alexander into Asia, was ill replaced by Tatar coarseness and barbarism;
but we cannot refuse our admiration to the spectacle of a handful of
gallant men determinedly resisting in the fastness of their native land
a host of aliens, and triumphing over their would-be oppressors.

The Parthians themselves, deeply impressed with the importance of
the contest, preserved the memory of it by a solemn festival on the
anniversary of their victory, which they still celebrated in the time of
Trogus.

CHAPTER IV.

_Consolidation of the Parthian Kingdom. Death of Tiridates and accession
of Arsaces