campaigning during the winter. So much depended upon the tension of
their bow-strings, which any dampness relaxed, that their rule was to
make all their expeditions in the dry time of their year, which lasted
from early in the spring until late in the autumn. The rule was,
however, transgressed upon occasions. Phraates II. made his attack
upon Antiochus Sidetes, while the snow was still upon the ground; and
Volagases I. fell upon Paetus after the latter had sent his troops into
winter quarters. The Parthians could bear cold no less than heat; though
it was perhaps rather in the endurance of the latter than of the former
that they surpassed the Romans. The sun's rays were never too hot for
them; and they did not need water frequently or in large quantities. The
Romans believed that they increased their ability of bearing thirst by
means of certain drugs which they consumed; but it may be questioned
whether they really employed any other remedies than habit and
resolution.

We find no use of chariots among the Parthians, except for the
conveyance of the females, who accompanied the nobles upon their
expeditions. The wives and concubines of the chiefs followed the camp
in great numbers; and women of a less reputable class, singers, dancers,
and musicians, swelled the ranks of the supernumeraries. Many of these
were Greeks from Seleucia and other Macedonian towns. The commissariat
and transport departments are said to have been badly organized; but
some thousands of baggage camels always accompanied an army, carrying
stores and provisions. Of these a considerable portion were laden with
arrows, of which the supply was in this way rendered inexhaustible.

The use of the elephant in war was still more rare in Parthia than that
of the chariot. While the Seleucid kings employed the animal to a large
extent, and its use was also probably known to the Greek princes of
Bactria, the Arsacidae appear to have almost entirely neglected it. On
one occasion alone do we find their employment of it mentioned, and
then we hear of only a single animal, which is ridden by the monarch.
Probably the unwieldy creature was regarded by the Parthians as too
heavy and clumsy for the light and rapid movements of their armies,
and was thus disused during the period of their supremacy, though again
employed, after Parthia had fallen, by the Sassanidse.

The Parthians entered into battle with much noise and shouting. They
made no use of trumpets or h