Orosius indeed (vi.

6) and Dio (xxxvii.

15), both of them doubtless following Livy, make Pompeius get to Petra and occupy the city or even reach the Red Sea; but that he, on the contrary, soon after receiving the news of the death of Mithradates, which came to him on his march towards Jerusalem, returned from Syria to Pontus, is stated by Plutarch (Pomp.

41, 42) and is confirmed by Floras (i.
39) and Josephus (xiv.

3, 3, 4).