ssed
the Euphrates, and carried fire and sword through Syria. Attidius
Cornelianus, the proconsul, having ventured to oppose them, was
repulsed. Vague thoughts of flying to arms and shaking off the Roman
yoke possessed the minds of the Syrians, and threatened to lead to some
overt act. The Parthians passed through Syria into Palestine, and almost
the whole East seemed to lie open to their incursions. When these facts
were reported at Rome, it was resolved to send Lucius Verus to the East.
He was of an age to undergo the hardships of campaigning, and therefore
better fitted than Marcus Aurelius to undertake the conduct of a great
war. But, as his military talent was distrusted, it was considered
necessary to place at his disposal a number of the best Roman generals
of the time, whose services he might use while he claimed as his own
their successes. Statius Priscus, Avidius Cassius, and Martius Verus,
were the most important of these officers; and it was by them, and not
by Verus himself, that the military operations were, in fact, conducted.
It was not till late in the year A.D. 162 that Verus, having with
reluctance torn himself from Italy, appeared, with his lieutenants,
upon the scene in Syria, and, after vainly offering them terms of
peace, commenced hostilities against the triumphant Parthians. The young
Emperor did not adventure his own person in the field, but stationed
himself at Antioch, where he could enjoy the pleasures and amusements of
a luxurious capital, while he committed to his lieutenants the task of
recovering Syria and Armenia, and of chastising the invaders. Avidius
Cassius, to whom the Syrian legions were entrusted, had a hard task to
bring them into proper discipline after their long period of inaction,
but succeeded after a while by the use of almost unexampled severities.
Attacked by Volagases within the limits of his province, he made a
successful defence, and in a short time was able to take the offensive,
to defeat Volagases in a great battle near Europus, and (A.D. 163) to
drive the Parthians across the Euphrates. The Armenian war was at the
same time being pressed by Statius Priscus, who advanced without a check
from the frontier to the capital, Artaxata, which he took and (as it
seems) destroyed. He then built a new city, which he strongly garrisoned
with Roman troops, and sent intelligence of his successes to Rome,
whither Soaemus, the expelled monarch, had betaken himself. Soasmus was
upo