ABSTRACT
When Herod landed in Ptolemais in early 39 bce, Ventidius was rolling back the Parthians. Herod was in a stronger position than a few months earlier, with Antony waking from his military slumbers. By contrast, Antigonus’s position as an ally of the Parthians was extremely tenuous, but he tried to take advantage of the large degree of autonomy vested in Roman generals and their financial cupidity to improve his position. Parthia under Pacorus and Labienus, both of whom would soon be dead, was in retreat and Antigonus was on a limb that was about to be sawn off.
