Beate Dignas & Engelbert Winter - Kaveh Farrokh

20 The peace treaty of 562 139
the barbaric peoples in the East that he was there in order to act as ambassador
regarding a cease-fire on both sides, the Persians also sent an ambassador, who
held the title Zich, which is the highest honour among the Persians, and whose
name was Yazdgushnasp; he was the chamberlain of the king. 110 The ambassadors
thus met in this way and as soon as the leaders of the surrounding areas had also
gathered, they called an assembly. And the Roman ambassador Peter, who was an
educated man in all respects and also had a good knowledge of the law, declared the
following. ‘Persians, we are here because the emperor of the Romans has sent us.
It should be superfluous to say who our emperor is because his deeds have shown
you the man. I am here now in order to transform the already existing peace into a
permanent peace. But first I want to point out to you the character and greatness of
the state with which you are going to conclude a peace. If, however, I appear to be
talking big, looking towards what is advantageous for both states, do not take my
long speech badly. For soon it will be clear that my words had to be said and I will
be praised after deeds will have shown you the benefit of my words. You are now
going to make peace with the Romans. It may suffice to say the word “Romans”
because their name should reveal everything else. As you are going to conclude
peace with such a powerful state and are not making minor decisions, you now
have to make the best and most advantageous choices and in place of the insecure
deeds of war welcome as a blessing the most secure thing for all humans, peace.
And you should not be deceived by thinking that you were victorious over the
Romans, boasting that you captured Antioch 111 and other Roman territories . . . ’
At this point the Roman ambassador elaborately points to the advantages
of a peace. After Peter’s speech the Persian ambassador makes his response
in as many words and emphasises above all the greatness of the Persian
Empire and the power of the Sasanian ruler Xusrō I.
‘If he wants, Xusrō is king over all men, and he does not wear the capture of Antioch
like an ornament and as his prime conquest around his neck. Although what we
have achieved appears frightful and awesome to you, we nevertheless think that it
is not crucial to have been victorious over any of our enemies. For we have been
raised to do precisely this, to be victorious, just as the other nations have learnt to
be inferior to us. Having destroyed yet another Roman city does not ever tempt
us to boast because what can be achieved without any difficulty does not deserve
particular praise. And this shall suffice to refute the flood of your keen words. The
Romans, however, are doing what they typically do, they ask for peace negotiations
before the Persians do. Although you have been inferior to us, you have scored a
victory by being fast, having been first in asking for peace. And in this way you
conceal your lack of glory in wars, by seeming reasonable although you are really
not in the position to sustain battle. If you had hesitated, we would have done this
as victors. Nevertheless we start negotiations, as we value peace above everything
110 ‘Zich’ is a Persian family name; cf. Christensen 1944: 105 n. 3; the Greek sources frequently confuse
Persian names and titles in this way.
111 Cf. 13.