2
The Persian Expedition of Gordian III
(the ‘first campaign’ of Shapur I against the Roman Empire)

2.1.1.
Renewal of hostility between Rome and Persia (241)

SHA Gordian(i Tres) 23, 5–6: When, however, this trouble in Africa had been ended,¹ a war broke out with the Persians—this being in the first consulship of Pompeianus and the second of Gordian (i.e. 241). 6. But, before setting out for this war, the young Gordian took a wife, the daughter of Timesitheus, a most erudite man, whom Gordian considered worthy of being his relation because of his powers of eloquence, and immediately made him prefect.²

(Magie, ii, pp. 423–5)

2.1.2.
Shapur's accession to sole rule

Agathias IV, 24, 2: The wicked Shapur of whom I have spoken succeeded him (i.e. Ardashir), and lived on for thirty-one years more,³ doing great harm to the Romans.

(Cameron, 1969/70 p. 121)

al-Tabari, pp. 822–7 (Nöldeke, pp. 25–31): See Appendix 1, pp..

2.1.3.
Description of his Empire

(Gk=Res Gestae Divi Saporis), lines 1–6: I am the Mazda-worshipping divine Shapur, King of Kings of Aryans (i.e. Iranians) and non-Aryans, of the race of the gods, son of the Mazda-worshipping divine Ardashir, King of Kings of the Aryans, of (2) the race of the gods, grandson of the King Papak, I am the Lord of the Aryan (i.e. Iranian) nation.

And I possess the following places: Persis, Parthia, Susiana, Mesene, Assuristan, Adiabene, Arabia (i.e. Bet Arabaye), Atropa (3)-tene, Armenia, Iberia (i.e. Georgia), Makhelonia, Albania, (Balasa)gan until the foot of the Caucasus and the (Alban)ian Gates and the whole of the Pressouar Mountains (i.e. the Elbourz), Media, Gourgan (i.e. Hyrcania), Marou (i.e. Margiane) (4) Are (i.e. Aria) and all the nations in the upper parts: Kermazene (i.e. Carmania), Segistane (i.e. Sakastan), (Turan, Makuran, Paradan), India and the nations of the Kusene (i.e. Kushan) as far as this side of Pash Kibour and up to the frontier of Kas (i.e. Kashgar), Sodikene (i.e. Sogdiana) and (5) Tsatsene (i.e. Tashkent) and from the other shore of the sea the nation of Mi(…) (Pth.: Mzwn=Oman?). And we have given the name Peros-sabour (i.e. Anbar) to a (fief?) and we have given a name to Hormizdartazir (modern Ahwaz).⁴ And such nations (6) and the rulers from every nation we have made subject tribute.

(Lieu)

2.1.4.
Restoration of the kingdom of Edessa by Gordian III

Michael the Syrian, Chron. V, 5, pp. (Syriac): The Edessenes and their kings came under the Roman yoke in the year 477 of the Greeks (AD 166), the seventh year of Lucius, the emperor of the Romans.⁵ …They were deprived of their king and their kingdom ceased completely to exist in the fifth year of Philip, the emperor of the Romans. In the five hundred and sixtieth year of the Greeks (AD 249) their kingdom was taken away from them during the time of Abgar Severus.⁶ In fact the Romans expelled him because he wished to rebel against them. They established Aurelianus, son of Habesai, as governor in place of their king, and imposed on them a tribute of servitude.

(Vince, revised Brock)

2.1.5.
The death of Gordian and the Roman withdrawal (244): (a) the Persian view

(Gk) lines 6–9: And when I was first established over the dominion of the nations, the Caesar Gordian (7) from the whole of the Roman Empire and the nations of the Goths and the Germans raised an army and marched against Assyria, against the nation of the Aryans (i.e. Iranians) and against us. A great battle took place between the two sides on the frontiers of (8) Assyria at Meshike.⁷ Caesar Gordian was destroyed⁸ and the Roman army was annihilated. The Romans proclaimed Philip (9) Caesar.

(Lieu)

2.2.1.
The death of Gordian: (b) the Roman view⁹

Oracula Sibyllina XIII, 13–20:

Then there will be an uprising of the enterprising Persians, together with the Indians, Armenians and Arabs, A Roman emperor (i.e. Gordian), insatiable for war, will approach them—

15 A young Ares (i.e. Mars), he will lead spearmen against the Assyrians.

Unto the Euphrates, deep flowing, silver, shall warlike Ares stretch forth his spear for the sake of vengeance. Betrayed by his colleague, 20 he will fall down in the ranks, smitten by the gleaming iron.¹⁰

(Lieu)

Aurelius Victor, liber de Caesaribus 27, 7–8:7. In that year (i.e. 242), after having increased and confirmed the quinquennial games which were introduced to Rome by Nero, he marched against the Persians¹¹ but before that, in accordance with an ancient custom, he opened the temple of Janus, which had been closed by Marcus Aurelius. 8. Then, after a brilliant campaign, he was murdered in the sixth year of his reign (Feb./March 244), the victim of the intrigues of his Praetorian Prefect, Marcus Philippus.

(Dodgeon)

Festus, breviarium 22, p. , 2–7: Under Gordian, the Parthians (sic) encouraged by the youth of the (Roman) prince, rebelled and were crushed in major battles. On his return as victor from Persia, he (i.e. Gordian) was murdered through the treachery of Philip, his Praetorian Prefect. The soldiers erected a memorial to him about twenty miles from the fortress of Circesium which is now still extant and they conducted his remains to Rome with every mark of respect.

(Dodgeon)

Eutropius, breviarium IX, 2, 2–3, 1:2. Gordian, while still very much a youth, married Tranquillina at Rome, opened the twin gates of Janus and, setting out for the east, made war upon the Parthians (sic) who were then planning to make an incursion. He conducted the war with success and made havoc of the Persians in great battles. 3. As he was returning, he was killed, not far from the Roman boundaries, by the treachery of Philip who reigned after him. The Roman soldiers raised a monument for him twenty miles from Circesium, which is a fortress of the Romans, overlooking the Euphrates. His remains they brought to Rome, and gave him the title ‘the Divine’.

3 When Gordian was killed, the two Philips, father and son, seized the government. After withdrawing the army intact, they set out from Syria to Italy.

(Watson)

Jerome, Chronicon, s. aa. 241–4, p. , 1–7: Gordian, while still a young man, vanquished the nation of the Parthians and when the victor was on his return to the native land he was killed by the treachery of Philip, the Praetorian Prefect, not far from Roman soil. The soldiers built a mound for Gordian which was near the Euphrates and his bones were conveyed to Rome.

(Lieu)

Ammianus Marcellinus XXIII, 5, 7–8: (AD 363) Leaving Circesium, we (i.e. Julian’s expeditionary force) came to Zaitha, the name of the place meaning an olive-tree.¹² Here we saw the tomb of the emperor Gordian, which is visible a long way off…. 8. When, in accordance with his innate piety, he (i.e. Julian) made offerings to this deified emperor and was on his way to Dura, a town now deserted….

(Yonge)

Ammianus Marcellinus XXIII, 5, 17: (Gordian’s achievements recalled by the Emperor Julian) ‘But to leave those ancient times, I will enumerate other exploits of more recent memory. Trajan and Verus have all gained victories and trophies in this country; and the younger Gordian, whose monument we have just been honouring, would have reaped similar glory, having conquered and routed the king of Persia at Rhesaina, if he had not been treacherously murdered by the (criminal) action of Philip,¹³ the Praetorian Prefect, with a few other wicked accomplices in this very place where he is buried.’

(Yonge, p. 328, revised)

SHA Gord. 26, 3–30, 9:3. But after this earthquake was stayed, in the consulship of Praetextatus and Atticus, Gordian opened the twin gates of Janus, which was a sign that war had been declared, and set out against the Persians with so huge an army and so much gold as easily to conquer the Persians with either his regulars or his auxiliaries. 4. He marched into Moesia and there, even while making ready, he destroyed, put to flight, expelled, and drove away whatever forces of the enemy were in Thrace. 5. From there he marched through Syria to Antioch, which was then in the possession of the Persians. There he fought and won repeated battles, and drove out Sapor, the king of the Persians, the successor of Artaxerxes.¹⁴ 6. After this he recovered Antioch, Carrhae, and Nisibis, all of which had been included in the Persian empire. 27 Indeed the king of the Persians became so fearful of the Emperor Gordian that, though he was provided with forces both from his own lands and from ours, he nevertheless evacuated the cities and restored them unharmed to their citizens; nor did he injure their possessions in any way. 2. All this, however, was accomplished by Timesitheus, Gordian’s father-in-law and prefect.¹⁵ 3. And in the end Gordian’s campaign forced the Persians, who were then dreaded even in Italy, to return to their own kingdom, and the Roman power occupied the whole of the East.

4. There is still in existence an oration of Gordian’s to the senate, wherein, while writing of his deeds, he gives boundless thanks to his prefect and father-in-law, Timesitheus. I have set down a part of it, that from this you may learn his actual words: 5. ‘After those deeds, Conscript Fathers, which were done while on our march and done everywhere in a manner worthy of as many separate triumphs, we (to compress much into little) removed from the necks of the people of Antioch, which were bent under the Persian yoke, the Persians, the kings of the Persians, and the Persians’ law.¹⁶ 6. After this we restored Carrhae and other cities also to the Roman sway. We have penetrated as far as Nisibis,¹⁷ and if it be pleasing to the gods, we shall even get to Ctesiphon.¹⁸ 7. Only may our prefect and father-in-law, Timesitheus prosper, for it was by his leadership and his arrangements that we accomplished these things and shall in the future continue to accomplish them. 8. It is now for you to decree thanksgivings, to commend us to the gods, and to give thanks to Timesitheus.’

9. After this was read to the senate, chariots drawn by four elephants were decreed for Gordian, in order that he might have a Persian triumph inasmuch as he had conquered the Persians, and for Timesitheus a six-horse chariot and a triumphal car and the following inscription: 10. ‘To His Excellency Timesitheus, Father of Emperors, Prefect of the Guard and of the entire City, Guardian of the State, the senate and the Roman people make grateful acknowledgment.’

28 But such felicity could not endure. For, as most say, through the plotting of Philip, who was made prefect of the guard after him, or, as others say, because of a disease, Timesitheus died, leaving the Roman state as his heir. Everything that had been his was added to the city’s revenues. 2. So excellent was this man’s management of public affairs that there was nowhere a border city of major size, such as could contain an army and emperor of the Roman people, that did not have supplies of cheap wine, grain, bacon, barley, and straw for a year; other smaller cities had supplies for thirty days, some for forty, and not a few for two months, while the very least had supplies for fifteen days. 3. When he was prefect, likewise, he constantly inspected his men’s arms. He never let an old man serve and he never let a boy draw rations. He used to go over the camps and their entrenchments, and he even frequently visited the sentries during the night. 4. And because he so loved the emperor and the state, everyone loved him. The tribunes and generals both loved and feared him so much that they were unwilling to do wrong and, for that matter, in no way did wrong. 5. Philip, they say, was mightily in fear of him for many reasons and on this account plotted with the doctors against his life. 6. He did it in this way: Timesitheus, as it happened, was suffering from diarrhoea and was told by the doctors to take a potion to check it. And then, they say, they changed what had been prepared and gave him something which loosened him all the more; and thus he died.

29 When he died, in the consulship of Arrianus and Papus, Philippus Arabs was made prefect of the guard in his place.¹⁹ This Philip was low-born but arrogant, and now could not contain himself in his sudden rise to office and immoderate good fortune, but immediately, through the soldiers, began to plot against Gordian, who had begun to treat him as a father. He did it in the following manner. 2. As we have said, Timesitheus had stored up such a quantity of supplies everywhere, that the Roman administration could not break down. But now Philip intrigued first to have the grain-ships turned away, and then to have the troops moved to stations where they could not get provisions.²⁰ 3. In this way he speedily got them exasperated against Gordian, for they did not know that the youth had been betrayed through Philip’s intriguing. 4. In addition to this, Philip spread talk among the soldiers to the effect that Gordian was young and could not manage the Empire, and that it were better for someone to rule who could command the army and understood public affairs. 5. Besides this, he won over the leaders, and finally brought it about that they openly called him to the throne. 6. Gordian’s friends at first opposed him vigorously, but when the soldiers were at last overcome with hunger, Philip was entrusted with the sovereignty, and the soldiers commanded that he and Gordian should rule together with equal rank while Philip acted as a sort of guardian.

30 Now that he had gained the imperial power, Philip began to bear himself very arrogantly towards Gordian and he, knowing himself to be an emperor, an emperor’s son, and a scion of a most noble family, could not endure this lowborn fellow’s insolence. And so, mounting the platform, with his kinsman Maecius Gordianus standing by him as his prefect, he complained bitterly to the officers and soldiers in the hope that Philip’s office could be taken from him. 2. But by this complaint—in which he accused Philip of being ‘unmindful’ of past favours and too little grateful—he accomplished nothing. 3. Next he asked the soldiers to make their choice, after openly canvassing the officers, but as a result of Philip’s intriguing he came off second in the general vote. 4. And finally, when he saw that everyone considered him worsted, he asked that their power might at least be equal, but he did not secure this either. 5. After this he asked to be given the position of Caesar, but he did not gain this. 6. He asked also to be Philip’s prefect, and this, too, was denied him. 7. His last prayer was that Philip should make him a general and let him live. And to this Philip almost consented —not speaking himself, but acting through his friends, as he had done throughout, with nods and advice. 8. But when he reflected that through the love that the Roman people and senate, the whole of Africa and Syria, and indeed the whole Roman world, felt for Gordian, because he was nobly born and the son and grandson of emperors and had delivered the whole state from grievous wars, it was possible, if the soldiers ever changed their minds, that the throne might be given back to Gordian if he asked for it again, and when he reflected also that the violence of the soldiers’ anger against Gordian was due to hunger, he had him carried, shouting protests, out of their sight and then despoiled and slain. 9. At first his orders were delayed, but afterwards it was done as he had bidden. And in this unholy and illegal manner Philip became emperor.

(Magie, ii, pp. 429–39, altered)

SHA Gord. 31, 2–3: And now, that he (i.e. Philip) might not seem to have obtained the imperial office by bloody means, Philip sent a letter to Rome saying that Gordian had died of a disease and that he, Philip, had been chosen emperor by all the soldiers. The senate was naturally deceived in these matters of which it knew nothing, and so it entitled Philip emperor and gave him the name Augustus and then placed the young Gordian among the gods.

(Magie, ii, pp. 439–41)

SHA Gord. 34, 2–5: The soldiers built Gordian a tomb near the camp at Circesium, which is in the territory of Persia, and added an inscription to the following effect in Greek, Latin, Persian, Hebrew and Egyptian letters, so that all might read. ‘To the deified Gordian, conqueror of the Persians, conqueror of the Goths, conqueror of the Sarmatians, queller of mutinies at Rome, conqueror of the Germans, but no conqueror of Philippi.’ This was added ostensibly because he had been beaten by the Alani in a disorderly battle on the plains of Philippi and forced to retreat, but at the same time it seemed to mean that he had been slain by the two Philips. But Licinius, it is said, destroyed the inscription at the time when he seized imperial power; for he desired to have it appear that he was descended from the two Philips.

(Magie, ii, pp. 445–7)

Epitome de Caesaribus 27, 1–3: Gordian, a grandson of Gordian by his daughter, was born at Rome to a most eminent father and ruled for six years. He was killed by the troops who had been incited to mutiny by the Praetorian Prefect Philip. His body was buried near the frontier between the Roman and Persian Empires at a place which, for this reason, is now called the Tomb of Gordian.

(Dodgeon)

Orosius, adversus paganos VII, 19, 5: So Gordian, after successfully waging great battles against the Parthians, was treacherously killed by his own men not far from Circesium on the Euphrates.

(Deferrari, p. 314)

Zosimus I, 17, 2–19, 1: Meanwhile Gordian married the daughter of Timesicles (i.e. Timesitheus), a man highly esteemed for his learning, and appointed him prefect of the court; by which he seemed to compensate for the deficiency of his own youth in the administration of public affairs.

18 Having secured his empire, he expected that the Persians would make an attack on the eastern provinces, as Shapur had assumed control in succession to Ardashir, who had restored the government to the Persians from the Parthians…. 2. The Emperor, having made all possible preparations, then marched against the Persians. The Roman army appeared to have the upper hand in the first engagement but the death of Timesicles, the Praetorian Prefect, considerably diminished the emperor’s confidence in the certainty of his rule. Philip was chosen Prefect in his place and soon the good will of the troops towards the emperor abated. 3. Philip came from Arabia, a nation in bad repute, and had advanced his fortune by not very honourable means, and once he had assumed office he began to aspire to imperial dignity and endeavoured to seduce all the soldiers who were disposed to revolt. Observing that an abundance of military provisions was supplied, while the emperor was with the army near Carrhae and Nisibis, he ordered the ships that brought those provisions to go further inland, so that the army, oppressed by hunger²¹ and want of supplies, might be provoked to mutiny.

19 His plan was successful; for the soldiers, on the pretext of a shortage of necessities, surrounded Gordian in a disorderly manner, killed him as the chief cause of so many of the casualties and, as agreed, they conferred the purple on Philip. He therefore made a sworn peace with Shapur, thus ending the war, and then set out for Rome. He bound the soldiers to him by generous donations and sent messengers ahead to Rome to announce that Gordian had died of a disease.

(Anon., revised Lieu)

Zosimus III, 14, 2: (AD 363) Then, moving forward sixty stades, he (i.e. the Emperor Julian) came to a place called Zautha (i.e. Zaitha), and from there to Dura (i.e. Europos) where there were the ruins of a city which was now deserted; here also was the tomb of the Emperor Gordian.

(Anon., revised Lieu)

Zosimus III, 32, 4: Long afterwards, when the emperor Gordian fought against the Persians, and lost his life in the midst of the enemy’s country, the Persians, even after that disaster, were not able to acquire any part of the Roman dominion.

(Anon., revised Lieu)

Jordanes, Historia Romana 282, p. , 27–31: Gordian, still a boy, was now made emperor and he reigned a mere six years. Then, after opening the twin gates of Janus, he set out for the east and took the offensive against the Parthians (sic). While returning in triumph he was killed by the treachery of Philip, the Praetorian Prefect, when he was not far from Roman territory.

(Dodgeon)

John of Antioch, frag. 147, FHG IV, p. 597: When the common end of life was about to take hold of Gordian (i.e. Gordian II, reigned 238), the governor of Syria sent a message that the king of the Persians had exceeded his own boundaries and was ravaging Roman territory, and that the war required his presence. When the young Gordian learned of this, though exceedingly fainthearted, he nevertheless announced an expedition against the Persians. After opening the gates (of the temple) of Janus, which were only opened in times of the greatest wars, he set out for the east. When he reached the Euphrates and also the approaches of the Tigris,²² he engaged the barbarians and through conducting the war in a most brilliant manner, he defeated the Parthian (sic) forces in a series of fierce battles. Then, after this accomplishment, in the sixth year of his reign, as he was returning to the frontiers of his own empire, he was murdered by Philip, the successor to his throne, who at that point of time trained the youth of the troops. Philip was duly proclaimed emperor.

Chronicon Paschale, p. 504, 2–6: This Philip Junior, who was prefect under the Emperor Gordian, who had appointed him, took from Gordian his son as hostage. After the death of Emperor Gordian, Philip killed the son and became emperor.

(Dodgeon)

Malalas, ap. Synopsis Sathas (cf. Stauffenberg 1939:62): He (i.e. Gordian III?) in the battle against the Persians was brought down from his horse and crushed his thigh.²³ On his return to Rome, he died from it (i.e. the wound) in his fiftieth year.

(Lieu)

Syncellus p. 443, 3–9 (p. 681, 5–11, CSHB): Gordian, the twenty-second emperor of the Romans, reigned for six years. He left Italy for Persia and afterwards routed Shapur, the king of the Persians and the son of Ardashir, in battle and brought Nisibis and Carrhae under subjection—cities which had been captured by the Persians from the Romans during the reign of Maximinus the Moesian. But as he was approaching Ctesiphon, he was murdered by his own troops at the instigation of the Prefect Philip, who reigned after him for five, some say seven, years.

(Dodgeon)

Georgius Monachus (Hamartolus), Chronicon 32, p. 461, 12–15: Jounorus’ (Gordian II?) son Gordian ruled after him for four years. He fell from his horse in battle, broke his thigh and died.

(Lieu)

Cedrenus, i, pp. 450, 23–451, 1, 11–12: But Philip the prefect forbade the corn to be conveyed to the camp…. After him (i.e. Gordian Junior?) his son reigned for four years. He died after falling from his horse and crushing his thigh.

(Dodgeon)

Zonaras XII, 17, p. 580, 7–14 (iii, pp. 128, 8–17, Dindorf): There are others who hold that the imperial rule passed to the younger Gordian (II) after the death of his father, the elder Gordian, through illness. They wrote that he campaigned against the Persians and fell in with them. He drove his horse forward in battle, exhorting his men and stirring them to feats of courage. The horse stumbled and fell on him, crushing his thigh. He therefore returned to Rome and died from the fracture after a reign of six years.

(Lieu)

Zonaras XII, 18, pp. 581, 16–582, 14 (iii, pp. 129, 19–130, 13, Dindorf): After the younger Gordian (i.e. Gordian II, reigned 238), another Gordian who, it was said, was a kinsman to the departed Gordians, assumed the purple. He marched against the Persians and joined with them in battle. Shapur, the son of Ardashir, was then their reigning monarch. He (Gordian) vanquished his foes and recaptured Nisibis and Carrhae which had been taken by the Persians during the reign of Maximinus (235–8). Then while on his way to Ctesiphon, he was murdered through the treachery of Philip, the Praetorian Prefect. For when Gordian came to power, he appointed his father-in-law, called Timesocles (sic), as Praetorian Prefect. While the latter was alive, matters pertaining to imperial authority fared well and were smoothly executed by him, but after his death, Philip was appointed Prefect. Scheming to provoke the soldiers to revolt, he reduced the food-provisions of the soldiers, giving the impression that this was at the command of the emperor. Some say that he (Philip) withheld the corn which was being conducted to the camp so that the soldiers would be oppressed by shortages and they would then be roused to mutiny. They duly revolted against the emperor, whom they regarded as the source of their famine. They came upon him suddenly and killed him in the sixth year of his reign. Philip immediately made a leap for the empire.

(Lieu)

2.2.2.
The participation of the philosopher Plotinus in the expedition of Gordian

Porphyry, vita Plotini 3: So great a taste for philosophy did he (i.e. Plotinus) develop, that he made up his mind to study that which was being taught among the Persians and among the Indians. When emperor Gordian was preparing himself for his expedition against the Persians, Plotinus, then thirty-nine years old, went on the expedition. After Gordian was killed in Mesopotamia, Plotinus escaped with difficulty to Antioch.²⁴

(Armstrong)

2.2.3.
Philip's treaty with Shapur I

S KZ (Gk) lines 9–10: And Caesar Philip came to sue for peace, and for their lives he paid a ransom of 500,000 denarii and became tributary to us.²⁵ (10) For this reason, we have renamed Meshike Peros-Sabour²⁶ (i.e. the victorious Shapur).

(Lieu)

Evagrius, Historia Ecclesiastica V, 7 (ed. Bidez and Parmentier, p. 203, 3–8) …what was formerly Greater Armenia but afterwards Persarmenia—not long ago was subject to the Romans but Philip, in succession to Gordian, had betrayed it to Shapur—the part called Lesser Armenia²⁷ was ruled over by the Romans, but the rest by the Persians.

(Lieu)

Zosimus III, 32, (4): The same applied when Philip was emperor,²⁸ although he entered into a most dishonourable peace with the Persians.

(Anon, revised by Lieu)

Zonaras XII, 19, p. 583, 1–5 (iii, p. 130, 22–7): On his return, Philip became master of the Roman Empire, and while on his way he elected his son Philip as his colleague. He made a peace with Shapur, then the king of the Persians, to end the war by ceding Mesopotamia²⁹ and Armenia.

(Lieu)

2.2.4.
The accession of Philip and general political instability in the East

Oracula Sibyllina XIII, 21–45:

Straightaway then a purple-loving warrior (i.e. Philip) will rule, appearing from Syria, terror of Ares, and with his son Caesar (Philip) shall oppress all the earth.

One name is to them both, on the first (i.e. A=Augustus) and twentieth (i.e. K=Caesar)

25 five hundred (i.e. =Philip) is placed. But when they who will gain power in war have become law-givers, there will indeed be a little respite from war but not for long.

For when the wolf pledges oaths to the flock against the white-toothed dogs, it will afterwards deceive³⁰

30 and hunt the woolly sheep, and cast aside the oaths.

Then there will be an unlawful contest of overbearing kings in wars. Syrians will perish terribly.

Indians, Armenians, Arabs, Persians, and Babylonians will destroy one another through fierce battles.³¹

35 But when the Roman Ares (i.e. Philip) vanquishes the German Ares, conquering the spirit destroying one of the ocean (i.e. Ti. Claudius

Marinus Pacatianus)³² then indeed for the Persians, overween ing men, will be war of many years, but victory will elude them.

For as a fish does not swim

40 on the crest of a high rock with many ridges, windy and high nor a tortoise fly, nor an eagle swim in water.

So also the Persians will be far from victorious on that day, in so far as the friendly nurturer of the Italians, lying in the plain of the Nile by the oracular water,

45 sends an appointed tribute to seven-hilled Rome.

(Lieu)

2.2.5.
Attempt by Philip to regain Mesopotamia and Armenia(?)

Zonaras XII, 19, p. 583, 5–9 (iii, pp. 130, 28–131, 3, Dindorf): However, once he learned that the Romans were distressed by the loss of these regions (i.e. Mesopotamia and Armenia), he, a little while later, broke the peace and gained possession of Mesopotamia and Armenia. This Shapur was said to be of enormous physical bulk, the like as had yet never before been seen.

(Lieu)

2.3.1.
Julius Priscus placed in charge of the East

IGR III 1201 (=Le Bas, P. and Waddington, W.R, 1870. Inscriptions Grècques et Latines recueillies en Asie Mineure, Paris, 2077, Prentice 1908:401a; found at Philippopolis, Arabia, Greek): (This statue of) […], youthful son of Julius Priscus, the most excellent Prefect of Mesopotamia,³³ the city erected, through Julius Malchus, councillor (i.e. decurion), syndic and superintendent, for (his) remembrance.

(Prentice, 1908:314)

IGR III 1202 (=Le Bas—Waddington, 2078 and Prentice 1908: 401b, also found at Philippopolis, Greek): (This statue of)…, youthful son of Julius Priscus, the most excellent Prefect of Mesopotamia, Kassios Teimothos, Beneficarius and afterwards Petitor, erected for (his) remembrance.

(Prentice, 1908:314)

Oracula Sibyllina XIII, 59–63:

Wretched Antioch, the exacting Ares will not leave you 60 while the Assyrian War is waging around you.

For a leading man will dwell under your roofs who will battle against all the arrow-shooting Persians, he himself coming from the royal house of the Romans.³⁴

(Lieu)

Zosimus I, 19, 2: When he (i.e. Philip) arrived at Rome, he won over the senatorial order with his fine oratory. However, he believed that the most important offices of the realm should be vested with his closest relatives. He therefore placed Priscus, his brother, in command of the Syrian forces and entrusted the armies in Moesia and Macedonia to Severianus, his brother-in-law.

(Anon., revised Lieu)

2.3.2.
Julius Priscus made rector orientis

CIL III, 1414955 (=Dessau 9005, Prentice 1908, 393): To Julius Priscus, vir eminentissimus and uncle of our lords Philippi Augusti, and Praetorian Prefect and Rector of the East (rector orientis),³⁵ Trebonius Sossianus, primus pilus, of the Colonia Heliopolis (Ba’albek?), who was devoted to their will and majesty.

(Prentice, 1908:308)

2.3.3.
Dedication by a prefect of a newly formed (or reformed) heavy cavalry unit at Bostra (between 244 and 249)

IGLS 9090 (=CIL III, 99 Dessau, 2771): To the excellent (vir egregius) Julius Julianus, ducenarius³⁶ prefect of the Legio I Parthica Philippiana, a most devoted general (dux): Trebicius Gau(d)inus, prefect of the New (Thousand-strong)³⁷ Steadfast Armoured Cavalry Philippiana³⁸ (alae novae firmae (miliariae) catafractariae Philippianae), to an outstanding officer.

(Lieu)

2.3.4.
Sepulchral inscription of a veteran of Legio VIII Augusta in Syria

IGR III, 1007 (bilingual tomb-inscription, found at Katura on the Jebel Halakah, Latin and Greek): Titus Flavius Julianus, veteran of (the) Eighth Legion, (called) ‘Augusta’,³⁹ has dedicated this monument forever to his manes (diis manibus suis) and (those) of Flavia Titia, his wife and to those in the world below, to his heirs also and to the descendants of these, so that none of them may dispose of this monument in any way. Thou also (farewell).

(Prentice, 1908:129)