If the Jews indeed knew the Greeks at large as Javan(im) is still
questionable. However, two of the Rock Edicts of Emperor Asoka of
Pataliputra (278/76-250? B.C.) mention Amtiyok king of the 'Yavanas'
(Westerners), i.e. Antiochus I (281-262/61 B.C.) or Antiochus II (262/61-246
B.C.). [Edict XIII P-Q and II (Shahbazgarhi)]
And the King of Kings Dareios denotes 'the whole extent of his Greek
dominions' as Yuna (Babyl. Yavanu), e.g. Behistun Inscrip. col. i. A§ 6.
[R.W. Macan, Herodotus]
Thus it is possible that the passage CD 8.8-13 et par refers to gained
dominion over Asia minor (!), perhaps incl. Syria and, thus, to succession
of the Seleucid Empire, result of a punishment-expedition rather than a
conquer. Cp. the Hebrew wordplay on the Javanese 'head/poison' as a tool to
take revenge on 'the (wicked; cf. 8.9) kings of the (uncircumcised) people'.
The Armenian candidate is Tigranes I (88-66 B.C.)
The 'Mithridatic' candidates are the C. Sulla + Fl. Fimbria + Caesar (88-85,
84-81 B.C.), M. Lucullus + M. Lucinius (74-68 B.C.) and Cn. Pompeius (68-63
B.C.)
The 'Syrian' candidates are the renegade Q. Labienus (40/39 B.C.) and the
Antonian V. Bassus (39/38 B.C.).
Finally, we may add Octavianus (Mutina 43 B.C. - Actium 31 B.C.), the later
Augustus, for his military staff cleaned 'Javan' from the 'wickedness' of M.
Antonius (and/or Cleopatra) and - of course - the latter, for he had control
over 'Javan'.
Personally, I'd favor Labienus/Bassus, or, if that isn't feasible, Pompeius.
The interesting Octavianus or Antonius scenario is perhaps too complicate
for the moment.
On the strength of Cn. Pompeius' army.
Pompeius started his Pontus campaign with Lucullus' legions already
stationed in Galatia, strengthened by called veterans of Fimbria's legions
and supported by levied auxiliaries from the Asiatic clients (Asia, Galatia,
Cilicia, Pamphylia, the Lycanians, Pisidians and the western Bythinians).
Mommsen assumes 40-50.000 foot (ie 12 weak legions) excl. auxiliary cavalry
and levied specialists, whereas Mithridates' total strength was roughly
30.000 foot and 3.000 cavalry (App. Mithr. 15.97), ie a military ratio of
2:1 in favor of the Romans.
[N.b. Delbrueck's ref. to a Mithridatic strength up to 1/2 million men is
Roman propaganda, literary nonsense, for M. directly made a peace offering
when P. crossed the border to Pontus.]
In the following course of the campaign the Roman losses (by the majority
auxiliaries) became compensated by levies from new conquered regions
Cappadocia, Iberia, Albania, Colchis, Little Armenia and Commagene.
That was the situation in spring 64 B.C., when the Roman army started to
cross the Pillars of Jonah Pass (cp. the periodical 'sign of Jonah' in the
Q-logia) to flood the Syrian Amuq plain.
Dierk
For private reply, e-mail to "Dierk van den Berg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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