in the person of Antigonus, the last Asmonsean
prince, who held the capital for three years--B.C. 40-37--as a Parthian
satrap, the creature and dependant of the great monarchy on the further
side of the Euphrates. Meanwhile in Asia Minor Labienus carried all
before him. Decidius Saxa, having once more (in Cilicia) ventured upon
a battle, was not only defeated, but slain. Pamphylia, Lycia, and Caria
were overrun. Stratonicea was besieged; Mylasa and Alabanda were taken.
According to some writers the Parthians even pillaged Lydia and Ionia,
and were in possession of Asia to the shores of the Hellespont. It may
be said that for a full year Western Asia changed masters; the rule and
authority of Rome disappeared; and the Parthians were recognized as the
dominant power. But the fortune of war now began to turn. In the autumn
of B.C. 39 Antony, having set out from Italy to resume his command in
the East, despatched his lieutenant, Publius Ventidius, into Asia, with
orders to act against Labienus and the triumphant Parthians. Ventidius
landed unexpectedly on the coast of Asia Minor, and so alarmed Labienus,
who had no Parthian troops with him, that the latter fell back hurriedly
towards Cilicia, evacuating all the more western provinces, and at the
same time sending urgent messages to Pacorus to implore succor. Pacorus
sent a body of horse to his aid; but these troops, instead of putting
themselves under his command, acted independently, and, in a rash
attempt to surprise the Roman camp, were defeated by Ventidius,
whereupon they fled hastily into Cilicia, leaving Labienus to his fate.
The self-styled "Imperator," upon this, deserted his men, and sought
safety in flight; but his retreat was soon discovered, and he was
pursued, captured, and put to death.

The Parthians, meanwhile, alarmed at the turn which affairs had
taken, left Antigonus to maintain their interests in Palestine, and
concentrated themselves in Northern Syria and Commagene, where
they awaited the advance of the Romans. A strong detachment, under
Pharnapates, was appointed to guard the Syrian Gates, or narrow pass
over Mount Amanus, leading from Cilicia into Syria. Here Ventidius
gained another victory. He had sent forward an officer named Pompsedius
Silo with some cavalry to endeavor to seize this post, and Pompaedius
had found himself compelled to an engagement with Pharnapates, in which
he was on the point of suffering defeat, when Ventidius himself, who had