Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/97

 HISTORY OF ARMENIA. Page 52

became again subject to the power of the Seleucidae. Antiochus withdrew his army, after being paid the arrears of tribute, and receiving gifts from the hands of Artavaz. The latter governed Armenia in peace for a period of 50 years, when he died.

Antiochus of Seleucia, after the death of Artavaz, divided Armenia into two governments, of which one is called Armenia Major and the other Armenia Minor. Over the former he placed Artaces, whose principal seat of government was the country of Ararat, near the river Arax, and over the latter, Darius, whose chief province was the country of Zophs near the river Euphrates.

About this time war raged between Rome and Carthage. The latter being worsted, her great general, Hannibal, was obliged to flee from the enmity of the Romans. He took refuge with Antiochus, who shortly after went to war with the Romans but was defeated by them. Being obliged by the superiority of these people to conclude a peace with them, they demanded the person of their old and inveterate enemy Hannibal to be given up to them. But as Antiochus had a personal regard for this great man, he was unwilling to comply with their demand, and evaded it by secretly assisting him to flee to Armenia.