Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/137

 93 HlfiTORT OF ARllENM.

the Armenian and Persian armies, appointed Herod king of the Jews, and sent Venticjius, one of their generals, with a large force, to pi|t him ia possession of his kingdom, and to protect hint from his enemies the Persians, Armenians, an<i partizans of Antigonus. On the arrival of Ventidius in Assyria, he soon oleared the country of the small body of men apppipted by Barzaphran for its defence. The Romao* army, after leaving a body of troops near the Euphrates, under the command of Silon, march* ed toward Jerusalem, to which they laid siege». but without effecting any thing. The Armenians and Persians during this time were mustering their forces to march against the enemy. They came upon Silon on the Euphrates, and vigo^ rously charging his troops, massacred them almost without exception. Silon however^ effected his escape to Ventidius. The latter wag attacked by the troops of Mesopotamia, headed by the Persian prince Bacur and Gnelus. In this battle, which was severely contested, B*acur was killed, together with a vast number of the Armenian cavalry and Persian infantry. M^* ^^ ^^^^ period Tigranes, king of Armenia, died at the age of 65, having been seated on th« throne 54 years.*

• Set HiM. B. II, DOU IT.

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