Divine Queen Thea Musa, The Parthian Basilíssa
The victory of the Parthians over the Roman General Marcus Licinius Crassus at Carrhae in 53 BC is perhaps the single most significant event in Rome's engagement with Parthia. The loss of Roman standards associated with Crassus' campaign in 53 BC was not only embarrassing, but also perilous for the Romans, who were concerned that any hint of military weakness would instil confidence in their adversary, to the detriment of Rome. The memory of this disaster became Rome's obsession and served as the impetus for a number of subsequent Roman invasions.
Detail from the breastplate of Augustus Prima Porta, showing a Parthian man returning the aquila lost by Crassus at the Battle of Carrhae ( Andreas Wahra/ CC BY-SA 3.0)
Imperial Reputation
Emperor Augustus' main purpose in the East was focussed on restoring Rome’s reputation in Parthia, even if it meant fighting the Parthians. As a result, his subsequent achievement in restoring Parthian norms may be the greatest significant triumph of Augustus’ foreign policy. This triumph was then heavily used in Imperial propaganda, as well as Augustus' own Res Gestae. Augustus proudly speaks of his subjugation of Parthia in Res Gestae 29 as he writes, “I compelled the Parthians to restore the spoils and standards of three Roman armies to me, and to seek as suppliants the friendship of the Roman people.” The recovered standards were temporarily held in a temple on the Capitoline Hill before being consecrated in 2 BC at Augustus' newly-erected temple of Mars Ultor in the Augustan Forum. The consecration of this temple was celebrated with the re-enactment, called a naumachia, of the great naval wars of Actium (Augustus against Anthony) and Salamis (Greeks against Persians). The Augustan forum's sculptural program confirmed the triumphal theme's significance as marble statues of Republican victorious generals adorned its porticoes and Augustus' victories were commemorated at the most prominent place, the center of the forum.
