ARSACES är’ sə sez (̓Αρσάκης). A title, Old Pers. “hero,” assumed by the Parthian kings after their founder (285-250 b.c.). A number of Medo-Pers. kings bore the title. Mithridates I Arsaces is not mentioned in any of the canonical books but is mentioned in 1 Maccabees 14:1-3 RSV. Appian, the Rom. historian from Alexandria, mentions this campaign. Josephus states, “[Demetrius] gathered an army together and made war on Arsaces but he lost his whole army and was captured alive himself” (Jos. Antiq. XIII. 186). The Parthian dynasty of the Arsacidae became one of Rome’s greatest threats. (See Persia III, E.)