The Origin and Deeds of the Goths | Page 7

a battle at the river Phasis (whence come the birds called
pheasants, which are found in abundance at the banquets of the great all
over the world) Tanausis, king of the Goths, met Vesosis, king of the
Egyptians, and there inflicted a severe defeat upon him, pursuing him
even to Egypt. Had he not been restrained by the waters of the
impassable Nile and the fortifications which Vesosis had long ago
ordered to be made against the raids of the Ethiopians, he would have
slain him in his own land. But finding he had no power to injure him
there, he returned and conquered almost all Asia and made it subject
and tributary to Sornus, king of the Medes, who was then his dear
friend. At that time some of his victorious army, seeing that the
subdued provinces were rich and fruitful, deserted their companies and
of their own accord remained in various parts of Asia.
From their name or race Pompeius Trogus says the 48 stock of the
Parthians had its origin. Hence even to-day in the Scythian tongue they
are called Parthi, that is, Deserters. And in consequence of their descent
they are archers--almost alone among all the nations of Asia--and are
very valiant warriors. Now in regard to the name, though I have said
they were called Parthi because they were deserters, some have traced
the derivation of the word otherwise, saying that they were called
Parthi because they fled from their kinsmen. Now when this Tanausis,
king of the Goths, was dead, his people worshipped him as one of their
gods.
[Sidenote: THE AMAZONS IN ASIA MINOR]
VII After his death, while the army under his successors 49 was
engaged in an expedition in other parts, a neighboring tribe attempted

to carry off women of the Goths as booty. But they made a brave
resistance, as they had been taught to do by their husbands, and routed
in disgrace the enemy who had come upon them. When they had won
this victory, they were inspired with greater daring. Mutually
encouraging each other, they took up arms and chose two of the bolder,
Lampeto and Marpesia, to act as their leaders. While they were in
command, 50 they cast lots both for the defense of their own country
and the devastation of other lands. So Lampeto remained to guard their
native land and Marpesia took a company of women and led this novel
army into Asia. After conquering various tribes in war and making
others their allies by treaties, she came to the Caucasus. There she
remained for some time and gave the place the name Rock of Marpesia,
of which also Virgil makes mention:
"Like to hard flint or the Marpesian Cliff."
It was here Alexander the Great afterwards built gates and named them
the Caspian Gates, which now the tribe of the Lazi guard as a Roman
fortification. Here, then, 51 the Amazons remained for some time and
were much strengthened. Then they departed and crossed the river
Halys, which flows near the city of Gangra, and with equal success
subdued Armenia, Syria, Cilicia, Galatia, Pisidia and all the places of
Asia. Then they turned to Ionia and Aeolia, and made provinces of
them after their surrender. Here they ruled for some time and even
founded cities and camps bearing their name. At Ephesus also they
built a very costly and beautiful temple for Diana, because of her
delight in archery and the chase--arts to which they were themselves
devoted. Then these 52 Scythian-born women, who had by such a
chance gained control over the kingdoms of Asia, held them for almost
a hundred years, and at last came back to their own kinsfolk in the
Marpesian rocks I have mentioned above, namely the Caucasus
mountains.
[Sidenote: THE CAUCASUS]
Inasmuch as I have twice mentioned this mountain-range, I think it not
out of place to describe its extent and situation, for, as is well known, it
encompasses a great part of the earth with its continuous chain.

Beginning 53 at the Indian Ocean, where it faces the south it is warm,
giving off vapor in the sun; where it lies open to the north it is exposed
to chill winds and frost. Then bending back into Syria with a curving
turn, it not only sends forth many other streams, but pours from its
plenteous breasts into the Vasianensian region the Euphrates and the
Tigris, navigable rivers famed for their unfailing springs. These rivers
surround the land of the Syrians and cause it to be called Mesopotamia,
as it truly is. Their waters empty into the bosom of the Red Sea. Then
turning 54 back to the north, the range I have spoken of passes with
great bends through the Scythian lands. There it sends forth very
famous