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178 his status as vassal of the empire. Izates, fully aware of the temerity of his defiance, sent his wives and children to a citadel, gathered all the grain into the fortified places, and burned all the forage in the open country. When these preparations were complete Izates took up a position with some six thousand cavalry on the Upper Zab River, which separated Adiabene from Media. Vologases arrived by forced marches and camped near by, whence he sent messages to Izates boasting of the greatness of the Parthian empire, which extended from the Euphrates to the boundaries of Bactria. Interchange of words was still taking place when the threat of an invasion of eastern Parthia by tribes east of the Caspian Sea forced Vologases to withdraw.

Not long after the return of Rhadamistus to Armenia the people again arose and drove him from the country. His wife Zenobia, who accompanied him in his flight, was at length so weary that she could go no farther, and to prevent her falling into the hands of his enemies Rhadamistus stabbed her and cast her into the Araxes River. Some shepherds found her still alive and took her to Artaxata, whence she was sent to Tiridates. The Parthian king treated her kindly, not necessarily for humanitarian reasons, but because through her he had a legitimate claim on Armenia. Tiridates returned to Armenia about the year 54.