Barzapharnes was a Parthian

Parthian Empire

The Parthian Empire , also known as the Arsacid Empire , was a major Iranian political and cultural power in ancient Persia...

 general during the latter half of the 1st century BCE. In 40 BCE, Barzapharnes commanded a Parthian invasion of the Levant

Levant

The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...

, commanded and aided by Pacorus

Pacorus

Pacorus may refer to:* Pacorus I of Parthia, possibly co-regent with his father Orodes II, c. 38 BC* Pacorus II of Parthia, c. 78–105...

, who allied himself with the Roman outlaw Quintus Labienus

Quintus Labienus

Quintus Labienus , the son of Titus Labienus, was a Roman republican general, later in the service of Parthia.After Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BC, Labienus took the side of Brutus and Cassius, the latter whom he served in the capacity of an ambassador to the Parthians...

, and seized Syria

Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....

. Barzapharnes campaign culminated in the capture of Jerusalem, and the replacement of Phasael

Phasael

Phasael was a prince from the Herodian Dynasty of Judea.-Origins and early career:...

 and Hyrcanus II

Hyrcanus II

Hyrcanus II, a member of the Hasmonean dynasty, was the Jewish High Priest and King of Judea in the 1st century BC.-Accession:Hyrcanus was the eldest son of Alexander Jannaeus, King and High Priest, and Alexandra Salome...

 by the pro-parthian Hasmonean prince, Antigonus ben Aristobulus

Antigonus the Hasmonean

Antigonus II Mattathias was the last Hasmonean king of Judea. He was the son of King Aristobulus II of Judea...

. Within a short time entire Judea had been subjugated, with a few exceptions, including the heavily fortified Tyrus

Tyrus

Tyrus may refer to:* Tyre , an ancient Phoenician city * Tyrus, a European strategy game* Ty Cobb, baseball player* Tyrus Thomas, basketball player* Tyrus Wong, Chinese painter...

. The Parthian force was driven out of Judea by Herod the Great

Herod the Great

Herod , also known as Herod the Great , was a Roman client king of Judea. His epithet of "the Great" is widely disputed as he is described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis." He is also known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and elsewhere, including his...

 (with Roman

Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....

 support) in 37 BC

37 BC

Year 37 BC was either a common year starting on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday or a leap year starting on Monday or Tuesday of the Julian calendar and a leap year starting on Monday of the Proleptic Julian calendar...

, while Ventidius drove the Parthians out of Asia Minor

Asia Minor

Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...

 and Syria

Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....

. Pacorus was killed in battle, but Barzapharnes fate remains unknown.