His death._ The successor of Phraates was his uncle, Artabanus, a son of Priapatius.
It is probable that the late king had either left no son, or none of sufficient age to be a fit occupant of the throne at a season of difficulty.

The "Megistanes," therefore, elected Artabanus in his nephew's place, a man of mature age, and, probably, of some experience in war.

The situation of Parthia, despite her recent triumph over the Syro-Macedonians, was critical; and it was of the greatest importance that the sceptre should be committed to one who would bring to the discharge of his office those qualities of wisdom, promptness, and vigor, which a crisis demands.
The difficulty of the situation was two-fold.

In the first place, there was an immediate danger to be escaped.

The combined Greeks and Scythians, who had defeated the Parthian army and slain the monarch, might have been expected to push their advantage to the utmost, and seek to establish themselves as conquerors in the country which lay apparently at their mercy.