Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/112

 HISTORY OF ARMENIA. Page 67

their numbers. And, to give an idea of the infinity of people that followed this prince, we are told, that on passing a country covered with pebbles, every man received orders to cast one into a heap; after all had passed, this heap was as big as a mountain!

Artaces, with this multitude, set out on his expedition. He directed his course to the westward, and subdued the whole of Asia Minor. He then fitted out a fleet, passed the Hellespont, and conquered Thrace and Greece, destroyed the chief cities in these countries, entered the Morea, and defeated the Lacedaemonians. His fame spread abroad to such an extent that even the people on the borders of the Mediterranean trembled at the sound of his name. Thus, having gratified his thirst for conquest he returned to Armenia. He then appointed his son Tigranes to the temporary government of his kingdom, and again set out on another expedition into Persia. No resistance was made against these incursions of Artaces; because the Romans, although at that time very powerful, were engaged in other wars, and had not the means of resisting him.

On another expedition planned by him shortly after, a sedition broke out amongst the soldiers, in which much blood was shed yet without success in quelling it; and Artaces, endeavouring to get away into Armenia from the danger that