Anilæus

ANILÆUS, Brother of Asinæus, both Jews of the Province of Babylon, and City of Neerda, upon the Euphrates¹. These two Brothers finding themselves to be necessitous after the death of their Father, were forced to learn the Weaver’s trade to get a livelihood. Coming one day too late to work, their Master had a mind to use them ill; but they made their escape from him, took arms, and gathered a good number of resolute people about them, with whom they seized on certain pasture grounds, in the marshes which the Euphrates makes at that place, where it divides itself into many branches. There they fortified themselves in such a manner, as to become formidable to the Governor of Babylon, who having projected to surprize them with an army, was repulsed by them, and obliged to retire. The King of the Parthians, named Artabanus, conceived an esteem for their persons, desired to see them, and suffered them to live in peace in the canton which they were possessed of.

There they lived quietly for fifteen years, till Anilæus fell passionately in love with the Wife of one who was a man of quality among the Parthians, and Governor of the Province; with him he made war, defeated, killed him, and married his Wife. This Woman brought her Idols with her, and continued to adore them; at which all the Jews murmured. Asinæus for some time took no notice of his Brother’s fault; but at last he was obliged to speak to him about it, and tell him that it was necessary he should divorce his Wife. Anilæus’s passion was stronger than his reason, and had more effect upon him than all his Brother’s remonstrances; and his Wife apprehending this general combination of the Jews against her, poisoned her Brother-in-law Asinæus.

Anilæus made inroads afterwards upon the territories of Mithridates, Son-in-law to King Artabanus. Mithridates having assembled an army, was surprized, defeated, and himself taken prisoner by Anilæus, who after he had treated him in a base manner, gave him at last his liberty. Mithridates, animated by the reproaches of his Wife, reassembled his troops. Anilæus marched against him, was routed, and obliged to fly into the marshes. There he found people enough to enable him to keep his ground, till the Babylonians, who had got some knowledge of the Country, while they were sending Deputies to treat with him, in order to come to some agreement, fell upon him in the night, and killed him. This happened about the year of J. C. 40.

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