 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
construction of the city. Its possession subsequently became a symbol of domination between rival
powers. The Romans, however, caused the greatest amount of damage and suffering.
In 58 A.D., Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo invaded and reclaimed Armenia for Nero, besieging and then
capturing the capital from the east; the city was surrounded on all the other sides by the Araxes River.
According to Tacitus, the king of Armenia, Tiridates, watched helplessly as Artaxata was burned to the
ground.
In 66, Tiridates gained the favor of Nero, returning home with 200,000 sesterces and with artisans,
craftsmen and gifts, as well as the emperor's permission to rebuild the capital. Artaxata was to be named
Neronia, a title that lasted only until Nero's fall in 69.
In 164, Statius Priscus took Armenia and erected a new city to take the old capital's place. Artaxata,
however, remained of some importance, for Ammianus Marcellinus mentioned that in 363 the Persians
retook Armenia, gaining a sizable portion of the country, including Artaxata. See also
TIGRANOCERTA.
¤ ARTAXES II (d. 20 B.C.) King of Armenia from 33 to 20 B.C., the son of Artavasdes I of Armenia,
who regained the throne lost by his father. In 34 B.C., Marc Antony captured Artavasdes and brought him
to Alexandria. Artaxes had escaped, eventually fleeing to King Phraates IV of Parthia. The Arsacid ruler
invaded Armenia in 33 B.C. and placed Artaxes on the throne. Spiteful and vengeful, the young king
ordered the slaughter of all Roman traders in Armenia, an act that went unavenged. Artaxes was not a
popular leader, and a cabal within the palace succeeded in murdering him.
¤ ARTEMIS See DIANA.
¤ ARULENUS RUSTICUS, Q. JUNIUS (d. c. 93 A.D.) Tribune of the Plebs in 66 A.D., praetor in 69
and consul suffectus in 92. An ardent Stoic philosopher, Rusticus was willing to confront the imperial
government from the start of his career, defending the political figure Thrasea Paetus in 66. He was a
friend of Pliny the Younger, Paetus and Helvidius Priscus, writing a panegyric (c. 93) in honor of the
latter two. This affront to the Flavians (both were opponents of Vespasian) was widened by Domitian
into a capital crime. Philosophers were banished from Italy, and Rusticus was put to death.
¤ ARVAL BRETHREN The name given to an order of priests in Rome who presided over festivals and
important religious holidays. Originally, the Arval was a powerful brotherhood that prayed to Mars, to
protect crops from plague, and to the Dea Dia, for crop fertility. By the Late Republic, their powers were
reduced and membership was declining.
The Arval Brethren were revived by new Emperor AUGUSTUS sometime around 21 B.C., with new
priests totaling 170. When the group was introduced to Rome, membership was considered an honor.
Even members of the Imperial Family opted to join, and the prayers were shifted in emphasis to
accommodate the new status of the group. Henceforth, the Arvals were to pray for crops and growth as
 |