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 III.  Attack on Media.  War of Artabanus (Arsaces III.) with Antiochus the Great.  Period of inaction.  Great development of Bactrian power.  Reigns of Priapatius (Arsaces IV.) and Phraates I. (Arsaces V.)

Selbucus might perhaps not have accepted his defeat as final had he been altogether free to choose whether he would continue the Parthian war or no.  The resources of his Empire were so vast, his command of men and money so unbounded, that he could easily have replaced one army by another, and so have prolonged the struggle.  But renewed troubles had broken out in the western portion of his dominions, where his brother, Antiochus Hierax, was still in arms against his authority.  Seleucus felt it necessary to turn his attention to this quarter, and having once retired from the Parthian contest, he never afterwards renewed it.  Tiridates was left unmolested, to act as he thought fit, and either to attempt further conquests, or to devote himself to securing those which he had effected.  He chose the latter course, and during the remainder of his reign—­a space of above twenty years—­he employed himself wholly in strengthening and adorning his small kingdom.  Having built a number of forts in various strong positions, and placed garrisons in them, he carefully selected a site for a new city, which he probably intended to make his capital.  The spot chosen combined the advantages of being at once delightful and easily defensible.  It was surrounded with precipitous rocks, which enclosed a plain of extraordinary fertility.  Abundant wood and copious streams of water were in the neighborhood.  The soil was so rich that it scarcely required cultivation, and the woods were so full of game as to afford endless amusement to hunters.  To the town which he built in this locality Tiridates gave the name of Dara, a word which the Greeks and Romans elongated into Dareium.  Unfortunately, modern travellers have not yet succeeded in identifying the site, which should, however, lie towards the East, perhaps in the vicinity of Meshed.