7.6

Antony in the East (37–32 BCE)

Livy, Epitome 130.e–132.e. Velleius 2.82. Plutarch, Antony 54.4. Dio 49.39–41.

(1) nāvālī proeliō: Sextus Pompey was defeated at the battle of Naulochus. Shortly afterward Lepidus set up the standard of revolt. He was defeated by Augustus and his power was taken from him, but his life was spared (Hazzard).

repudiātā sorōre: In 37 BCE Antony sent his wife Octavia back to Rome and summoned Cleopatra to Antioch where he possibly "married" her even though still married to Octavia. He divorced Octavia in 32 BCE, upon which Octavian published his will, which acknowledged Caesarion, provided for his children by Cleopatra and arranged for his burial in Alexandria. This was a welcome coup for Octavian (Bird). The historian Cassius Dio sees Antony’s divorce of Octavia as the catalyst for the civil war that culminated with the Battle of Actium, as it caused Marcus Titius and Lucius Munatius Plancus to shift their allegiance and reveal to Octavian the contents of Antony’s will. Dio states that

(2) Contrā Persās: In 36 BCE Antony invaded Parthia with an army of over 100,000 men and penetrated Media Atropatene but failed to capture its chief city Phraaspa (near Tabriz). He retreated through Armenia with severe losses and was unable to resume the offensive until 34 BCE when he overran Armenia and dethroned King Artavasdes II. In 33 BCE he again reached Atropatene but was forced to turn back to deal with Octavian (Bird).

ipse pūgnāvit: ipse refers to Antony. Antony lacked the engines necessary for reducing the strongly fortified cities of the enemy, and besides he was very anxious to return to Alexandria (Hazzard).

cum īnstārent Parthī fugientī: fugientī refers to Antony, a present active participle, and the dative object of instō (LS insto I.B).

prō victō: "for conquered/as if conquered" (Hazzard), perfect passive participle > vincō.