The Parthians, Rome’s greatest threat on its eastern border, were famous for the long hair of their warriors (Plutarch, Crass. 24:2; cf. Suetonius, Vesp. 23:4). Moreover, according to certain tales circulating when John wrote, the supposedly deceased Nero had actually escaped to Parthia, only to return with a Parthian army (Sib. Or. 4.119–124, 137–139; cf. Suetonius, Nero 47; Tacitus, Hist. 2.9).
