honored, and in the second war performed far greater and more numerous exploits.  Finally, he advanced so far in bravery and good fortune during this war which we are considering that he was enrolled among the ex-praetors, became consul, and governed Palestine.  To this chiefly was due the jealousy and hatred felt for him, and his destruction.] Now when Trajan had invaded the hostile territory, the satraps and kings of that region approached him with gifts.  One of these gifts was a horse taught to do obeisance.  It would kneel with its front legs and place its head beneath the feet of whoever stood near.

[Sidenote:  A.D. 117 (a.u. 870)] [Sidenote:—­33—­] Now Trajan was preparing to make a new expedition into Mesopotamia.  Finding himself, however, held fast by the clutches of the disease, he started to sail to Italy himself and left behind Publius Aelius Hadrian with the army in Syria.  So the Romans, who had conquered Armenia, most of Mesopotamia, and the Parthians, had labored in vain and had vainly undergone danger.  The Parthians disdained Parthamaspates and began to have kings according to their original custom.  Trajan suspected that his falling sick was due to the administration of poison.  Some declare it was because his blood, which annually descended into the lower part of his body, was kept from flowing.  He had also become paralyzed, so that part of his body was disabled, and his general diathesis was dropsical.  And on coming to Selinus in Cilicia, which we also call Traianoupolis, he suddenly expired after a reign of nineteen years, six months, and fifteen days.

DIO’S ROMAN HISTORY 69

Hadrian without being adopted succeeds, through the favor of Plotina (chapters 1, 2).

About the assassinations authorized by Hadrian:  about his varied learning and jealousies (chapters 3, 4).

His virtues, particularly affability and generosity:  old arrears of debt forgiven (chapters 5, 8).

Travels:  discipline of the army reformed:  interest in hunting (chapters 9, 10).

How he honored Antinous with various marks of remembrance (chapter 11).

Uprising of Jews on account of the founding of Capitolina:  Bithynia recovered (chapters 12-14).

The Albanians are held in check:  Pharasmanes the Iberian is honored (chapter 15).

The Temple of Jupiter Olympius and the Panellenium are consecrated (chapter 16).

Growing ill, he adopts Commodus, slays Servianus:  the distinguished services of Turbo, Fronto, Similis (chapters 17-19).

On the death of Commodus he adopts Antoninus, the latter adopting at the same time Marcus and Verus (chapters 20, 21).

How Hadrian departed this life (chapters 22, 23).

DURATION OF TIME.

Quinctius Niger, Vipsanius Apronianus. (A.D. 117 = a.u. 870 = First of Hadrian, from Aug. 11th).