(4)-Orodes II (57-38 BC)Rev

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
Son of Phraates III. Reign 57 - 38 BC. The Roman triumvir Crassus (defeater of Spartacus / richest man in Rome) crosses into Parthia with his army. Orodes II sends an ambassador asking what his intentions are. He says, 'I will give you my answer in Seleucia!' and Orodes replies, 'Hair will grow on my palm before you see Seleucia!' And so on. Suren meets the Roman army at Carrhae and although outnumbered four to one, defeats them. More than half of the Romans are killed. Crassus' head and hand are sent to Orodes in Armenia, where a Greek actor introduces them at the appropriate time during Euripides' Bacchae, using them as props. It is said that molten gold was poured down the throat of Crassus' severed head to mock his great wealth.
And how was Suren repaid for his great victory? Orodes had him put to death; probably to make sure he wouldn't get too big for his britches (or perhaps to confiscate his two hundred wagon loads of concubines...)
A few years later, Orodes favorite son and heir, Pacoros I, is killed fighting the Romans. Orodes loses his marbles and picks the worst of his thirty sons to be his successor, Phraates IV, who immediately kills his father, all his brothers and their families.
AR Drachm
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Blundered Greek legend.