09-14-2012, 11:23 AM
Hi,
There are several reports about Crassus' death in our sources. According to most sources Crassus was killed in a struggle during a parley with the Parthians (Plut. Crassus 31; Cass. Dio XL. 27; Polyaen. VII. 41; Florus I. 46; Festus 17).
But there are some sources, which claim, that Crassus was captured alive and then killed by the Parthians (Strabo XVI. 23; Servilius Verg. Aen. VII. 606; Zos. III. 32). None of them, however, provides any information about the length of the captivity.
I think, that most of the sources claiming that Crassus was captured alive simply refer to the very short seizure of Crassus during the parley (see Duncan's citation of Livy below).
The only source, which indicates a longer lasting captivity is Servilius. According to him Crassus was captured and then killed by pouring of melted gold into his mouth. However, Servilius seems to be confusing two events here. Some other sources inform us, that after Crassus' death the Parthians poured melted gold into his mouth in a mockery of his greediness. So Servilius probably mistakenly joined these two events (1. Crassus death and 2. pouring of melted gold into his mouth) into one. Moreover the whole scene with the melted gold is probably made up (for a detailed discussion of this scene see Weggen, K.: Der lange Schatten von Carrhae. Studien zu M. Licinius Crassus, Hamburg, 2011, p. 82-94).
So, I agree that Laale probably confused the fate of Crassus with that of Valerian.
Greetings,
Alexandr
There are several reports about Crassus' death in our sources. According to most sources Crassus was killed in a struggle during a parley with the Parthians (Plut. Crassus 31; Cass. Dio XL. 27; Polyaen. VII. 41; Florus I. 46; Festus 17).
But there are some sources, which claim, that Crassus was captured alive and then killed by the Parthians (Strabo XVI. 23; Servilius Verg. Aen. VII. 606; Zos. III. 32). None of them, however, provides any information about the length of the captivity.
I think, that most of the sources claiming that Crassus was captured alive simply refer to the very short seizure of Crassus during the parley (see Duncan's citation of Livy below).
The only source, which indicates a longer lasting captivity is Servilius. According to him Crassus was captured and then killed by pouring of melted gold into his mouth. However, Servilius seems to be confusing two events here. Some other sources inform us, that after Crassus' death the Parthians poured melted gold into his mouth in a mockery of his greediness. So Servilius probably mistakenly joined these two events (1. Crassus death and 2. pouring of melted gold into his mouth) into one. Moreover the whole scene with the melted gold is probably made up (for a detailed discussion of this scene see Weggen, K.: Der lange Schatten von Carrhae. Studien zu M. Licinius Crassus, Hamburg, 2011, p. 82-94).
So, I agree that Laale probably confused the fate of Crassus with that of Valerian.
Greetings,
Alexandr
