Page:Political History of Parthia.pdf/241

Rh sand horsemen who accompanied the Armenian king were drawn from the Roman state treasury. Besides his own sons, Tiridates took with him those of his two brothers and of Monobazus. The queen also was a member of the party and rode beside her lord, wearing a helmet in lieu of the usual veil. The whole trip took some nine months. In Italy Tiridates traveled in a two-horse carriage sent by Nero which conveyed him by way of Pisenum to Neapolis, where he was met by the Emperor. Here Tiridates did obeisance and paid homage to Nero; but, like the warrior that he was, he refused to remove his dagger, preferring to fasten it to its sheath with nails.

A gladiatorial exhibition was given at the near-by city of Puteoli, after which the party proceeded to Rome. The Imperial City was decorated for the occasion, and great crowds gathered to watch the ceremony. Tiridates again humbled himself before Nero, who then declared him king of Armenia and placed the diadem upon his head. After a stay of some duration in Rome Tiridates returned home partly by land and partly by sea, for he crossed from Brundisium to Dyrrachium and then passed through Asia Minor. He brought back with him many costly gifts and numbers of artisans in order to rebuild the capital city of Artaxata.