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Isidorus gives detailed information for the routes and stations across Mesopotamia and Babylonia as far as the Tigris, observing the locations and names of villages and cities (always called poleis), and noting where there are royal stathmoi, as at the fortress Alagma near Ichnai and at Thillada Mirrada, and which cities are Greek, namely Anthemousia, Ichnai, Nikephorion, Dura-Europos (FGrH 781 F2 §1). Beyond Seleucia on the Tigris were two relatively densely populated regions, Apolloniatis and Chalonitis, with a noticeable Greek presence, so they also receive more attention. Isidorus describes both as containing a number of villages and Greek (Artemita and Chala) and non-Greek (Chalasar) cities (FGrH 781 F2 §§2–3). Once into Media, the route stretches out over longer distances, with fewer cities and villages mentioned; Isidorus continues to name the cities, some of which are Greek, and indicates the presence of stathmoi, but few of his western audience can have expected to venture this far. Indeed we may wonder how much of this route Isidorus himself traveled (cf. Fraser 1996: 91–92). The key to understanding Isidorus’s text, as with all the Greco-Roman geographies, is to consider its purpose. Isidorus conducted his survey of Parthia for political reasons, not scientific, and so he focuses upon cities, structures, and terrain of significance to the Augustan leadership, enumerating the Greek cities still flourishing under Parthian rule, the location of fortresses and “royal” stathmoi (presumably large enough to furnish a rest stop for an army or expeditionary force), and the disposition of civilian habitations and strategic river crossings (Millar 1998a: 120–121). All of these are what a Roman contingent would need to know in order to gather local intelligence effectively and manage their encounters with Parthian forces.