Arsaces
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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ARSACES

ar-sa'-sez ar'-sa-sez (Arsakes): The common name assumed by all the Parthian kings, is mentioned in 1 Maccabees 14:1-3, and in 15:22 in connection with the history of Demetrius, one of the Greek, or Seleucid, kings of Syria, and successor to Antiochus Epiphanes, the oppressor of the Jews, who caused the uprising against the Syrian domination under the leadership of the Maccabees. This particular Arsaces was the sixth of the line of independent Parthian rulers which had been founded in 250 B.C. by Arsaces I, who revolted from Antiochus Theos, killed the Syrian satraps, and with his successor Tiridates I firmly established the independence of the Parthian kingdom. About 243 B.C., Tiridates added Hyrcania to his dominions; but it was not till the reign of Arsaces VI, whose pre-regnal name was Mithridates, that Parthia through the conquest of Bactria, Media, Persia, Armenia, Elymais and Babylonia, threatened the very existence of the kingdom of the Seleucids and became a dangerous competitor of Rome itself.

It was this king who about 141 B.C. was attacked by Demetrius Nicator, king of Syria. According to the account preserved in 1 Maccabees 14:1-3, Arsaces sent one of his captains, who went and smote the host of Demetrius, and took him alive, and brought him to Arsaces, by whom he was put in ward. At first, the captive king was treated with great severity, being carried in triumph from city to city and exhibited to his enemies. Later, however, Arsaces gave him his daughter in marriage and assigned him a residence in Hyrcania. Some time after the death of Arsaces, Demetrius was sent back to Syria by Phraates, the son of Mithridates, and reigned from 128 to 125 B.C. Arsaces VI is mentioned, also, in 1 Maccabees 15:22, as one of the kings whom the Romans forbade to make war on their Jewish allies.

LITERATURE.

See 1 Maccabees 14:1-3, and 15:22; Ant, XIII, v, 11; XIV, viii, 5; Appian, Syria, 67; Strabo, XI, 515; XV, 702; Justin, XLI, 5, 6; XXXVI, 1; Orosius, V, 4; Rawlinson's Parthia, in the Story of the Nations series and Die Herrschaft der Parther in Justi's Geschichte des alten Persiens in Oncken's Allgemeine Geschichte, I, 4.

R. Dick Wilson

Library

Now Herod and Philip Built Several Cities in Honor of Caesar. ...
... that it was impossible they should be governed without a king, while also it was
their constant practice to choose one of the family of Arsaces, [nor did their ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 now herod and.htm

Hyrcanus Receives the High Priesthood, and Ejects Ptolemy Out of ...
... Nor is it lawful for us to journey, either on the Sabbath day, or on a festival
day [24] But when Antiochus joined battle with Arsaces, the king of Parthin, he ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 hyrcanus receives the.htm

The True Prophet: Why Called the Christ.
... But He is called Christ by a certain excellent rite of religion; for as there are
certain names common to kings, as Arsaces among the Persians, Cæsar among ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xlv the true prophet why.htm

How Trypho after He had Beaten Demetrius Delivered the Kingdom to ...
... ambassadors to him, and promised, that if he would come to them, they would deliver
themselves up to him, and assist him in fighting against Arsaces, [12] the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how trypho after.htm

Book 13 Footnotes
... See concerning this matter a remarkable clause, Antiq. B. XVI. ch.11. sect.7. [12]
This king, who was of the famous race of Arsaces, is bethused to call them ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 13 footnotes.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9. <. ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

Thesaurus
Arsaces
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ARSACES. ar-sa'-sez ar'-sa-sez (Arsakes):
The common name assumed by all the Parthian kings, is ...
/a/arsaces.htm - 8k

Parthians (1 Occurrence)
... of the Seleucid kings of Syria, but revolted about 250 BC, in the reign of Antiochus
II (Theos), and gained their independence under the lead of Arsaces I who ...
/p/parthians.htm - 16k

Tryphon
... In 138 BC Demetrius was captured by Mithridates I (Arsaces), king of Parthia (1
Maccabees 14:2). His brother, Antiochus VII (Sidetes), continued the struggle ...
/t/tryphon.htm - 9k

Rages (5 Occurrences)
... Destroyed in Alexander's time, it was rebuilt by Seleucus Nicator (circa 300 BC),
who named it Europos. Later, Arsaces restored it and named it Arsacia. ...
/r/rages.htm - 10k

Ragau (1 Occurrence)
... Destroyed in Alexander's time, it was rebuilt by Seleucus Nicator (circa 300 BC),
who named it Europos. Later, Arsaces restored it and named it Arsacia. ...
/r/ragau.htm - 9k

Arsareth
Arsareth. Arsaces, Arsareth. Arsenal . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ARSARETH.
ar'-sa-reth. See ARZARETH. Arsaces, Arsareth. Arsenal . Reference Bible
/a/arsareth.htm - 6k

Arrow-snake (1 Occurrence)
Arrow-snake. Arrowsnake, Arrow-snake. Arsaces . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(DBY). Arrowsnake, Arrow-snake. Arsaces . Reference Bible.
/a/arrow-snake.htm - 6k

Demetrius (3 Occurrences)
... The tables were turned, and Demetrius, besieged in his camp and starved into submission,
was taken prisoner and sent to Arsaces, who held him captive until his ...
/d/demetrius.htm - 17k

Subtopics

Arsaces

Related Terms

Parthians (1 Occurrence)

Tryphon

Rages (5 Occurrences)

Ragau (1 Occurrence)

Arsareth

Arrow-snake (1 Occurrence)

Demetrius (3 Occurrences)

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