Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/281

 B. xi. c. xiv. H, 15. ARMENIA. 273 plain, through which the river flows to the cataract, became uncovered. This story which is told of the river Araxes contains some probability ; that of Herodotus l none whatever. For he says that, after flowing out of the country of the Ma- tiani, it is divided into forty rivers, and separates the Scythians from the Bactrians. Callisthenes has followed Herodotus. 14. Some tribes of .JEnianes are mentioned, some of whom settled in Vitia, others above the Armenians beyond the Abus and the Nibarus. These latter are branches of Taurus ; the Abus is near the road which leads to Ecbatana by the temple of Baris (Zaris ?). Some tribes of Thracians, surnamed Saraparae, or decapi- tators, are said to live above Armenia, near the Gouranii and Medes. They are a savage people, intractable mountaineers, and scalp and decapitate strangers ; for such is the meaning of the term Saraparae. I have spoken of Medeia in the account of Media, and it is conjectured from all the circumstances that the Medes and Armenians are allied in some way to the Thessalians, de- scended from Jason and Medeia. 15. This is the ancient account, but the more recent, and extending from the time of the Persians to our own age, may be given summarily, and in part only (as follows) ; Persians and Macedonians gained possession of Armenia, next those who were masters of Syria and Media. The last was Orontes, a descendant of Hydarnes, one of the seven Persians : it was then divided into two portions by Artaxias and Zariadris, generals of Antiochus the Great, who made war against the Romans. These were governors by permission of the king, but upon his overthrow they attached themselves to the Ro- mans, were declared independent, and had the title of kings. Tigranes was a descendant of Artaxias, and had Armenia, properly so called. This country was contiguous to Media, to the Albani, and to the Iberes, and extended as far as Col- chis, and Cappadocia upon the Euxine. Artanes the Sophenian was the descendant of Zaria- dris, and had the southern parts of Armenia, which verge rather to the west. He was defeated by Tigranes, who be- came master of the whole country. He had experienced many vicissitudes of fortune. At first he had served as a k 1 Herod, i. 202. II. T