Greek cities the
Olympian gods were permitted to receive the veneration of thousands,
while in Babylon, Nearda, and Nisibis the Jews enjoyed the free exercise
of their comparatively pure and elevated religion. No restrictions seem
to have been placed on proselytism, and Judaism certainly boasted many
converts from the heathen in Adiabene, Charax Spasini, and elsewhere.
Christianity also penetrated the Parthian provinces to a considerable
extent, and in one Parthian country, at any rate, seems to have become
the state religion. The kings of Osrhoene are thought to have been
Christians from the time of the Antonines, if not from that of our Lord;
and a nourishing church was certainly established at Edessa before the
end of the second century. The Parthian Jews who were witnesses of the
miraculous events which signalized the day of Pentecost may have, in
some cases, taken with them the new religion to the land where they had
their residence; or the Apostle, St. Thomas, may (as Eusebius declares)
have carried the Gospel into the regions beyond the Euphrates, and have
planted the Christian Church in the countries out of which the Jewish
Church sprang. Besides the nourishing community of Edessa, which was
predominantly, if not wholly, Christian from the middle of the second
century, many converts were, we are told, to be found among the
inhabitants of Persia, Media, Parthia Proper, and even Bactria. The
infusion, however, was not sufficient to leaven to any serious extent
the corrupt mass of heathenism into which it was projected; and we
cannot say that the general character of the Parthian empire, or of the
manners and customs of its subjects, was importantly affected by the new
religion, though it had an extraordinary influence over individuals.

The Parthians were essentially a warlike people; and the chief interest
which attaches to them is connected with their military vigor and
ability. It is worth while to consider at some length the peculiarities
of that military system which proved itself superior to the organization
of the Macedonians, and able to maintain for nearly three hundred years
a doubtful contest with the otherwise irresistible Romans.

We are told that the Parthians had no standing army. When war was
proclaimed and the monarch needed a force, he made his immediate vassals
acquainted with the fact, and requested each of them to marshal their
troops, and bring them to a fixed rendezvous by a certain day. Th