oman games was
now become a fashion. In the latter part of the Republic it was
carried to an enormous extent: the elephant, the rhinocerous, the
lion, and other wild animals, were brought from Africa to Rome for
these occasions. When Sulla was praetor B.C. 93, he exhibited one
hundred lions in the Circus, which were let loose and shot with arrows
by archers whom King Bocchus sent for the purpose. (Plinius, _N.H._
viii. 16, Seneca, _De Brevitate Vitae_, c. 13.) There was an old decree
of the Senate which prohibited the importation of African wild beasts,
but it was repealed by a measure proposed by the tribune Cn. Aufidius
so far as to render the importation legal for the games of the Circus.

Plutarch speaks of Sulla as immediately canvassing for the praetorship
after his return to Rome. The dates show that at least several years
elapsed before he succeeded.]

[Footnote 173: Probably Sextus Julius Caesar, consul B.C. 91, and the
uncle of the Dictator, C. Julius Caesar.]

[Footnote 174: Ariobarzanes I. called Philoromaeus, or a lover of the
Romans, was elected king of Cappadocia B.C. 93, but he was soon
expelled by Tigranes, king of Armenia, the son-in-law of Mithridates.
Ariobarzanes applied for help to the Romans, and he was restored by
Sulla B.C. 92. He was driven out several times after, and again
restored by the Romans.]

[Footnote 175: The name is written Mithradates on the Greek coins. The
word Mithradates occurs in various shapes in the Greek writers; and it
was a common name among the Medes and Persians. The first part of the
name (Mithra) is probably the Persian name Mitra or Mithra, the Sun.
This Mithridates is Mithradates the Sixth, king of Pontus in Asia, who
succeeded his father Mithridates V. B.C. 120, when he was about eleven
years of age. He was a man of ability, well instructed in the learning
of the Greeks, and a great linguist: it is said that he could speak
twenty-two languages. He had already got possession of Colchis on the
Black Sea, and placed one of his sons on the throne of Cappadocia. He
had also strengthened himself by marrying his daughter to Tigranes
king of Armenia. Other events in his life are noticed in various parts
of the Lives of Sulla, Lucullus, and Pompeius. (See _Penny
Cyclopaedia_, "Mithridates VI.")]

[Footnote 176: This name was common to a series of Armenian, and to a
series of Parthian kings. One Arsaces is considered to be the founder
of the dynasty of the Parthian king