He advances
to the river
Araxes,
and from
thence to
Corsole.
Distance of
the Pylae from
Corsote.
City of Car-
mandæ, and
disputes of
the Greeks.
they advanced a distance of one hundred and five geographical
miles, or fifty parasangs, in nine days, to the river Araxes,1 and
entered the desert of Mesopotamia, after making the necessary
provision for the coming march.
In five marches, at times occupied in hunting ostriches, roe,
deer, wild asses, and bustards, they accomplished a distance of
thirty-five parasangs to the river Masca and the town of Corsote
; the position of which seems to correspond with the ruins
of A1 Erzi, whose site is sixty-three miles from the river
Araxes.2
There has been some little difficulty about the termination
of the succeeding march of ninety parasangs; but as it appears,
by the subsequent movements, that the Pylse were about twenty-
four miles short of the Median wall, the pass in question may
safely be placed about twenty-seven miles below Hit,3 or nearly
opposite to the village of Jarrah, from which, by the map, there
are about one hundred and seventy-five, or one hundred and
seventy-seven geographical miles to represent the ninety parasangs
from Corsote to the Pylae, which, at D98 each, give
178'2 geographical miles.
Some time during the previous march they halted opposite
to a large and magnificent city called Carmandse,4 from which
panic, palm-wine, and other supplies were obtained; crossing
the river for this purpose on rafts made with the skins of their
tents stuffed with rushes. It was in the vicinity of this place
that the serious dispute occurred between the followers of
Clearchus and those of Menon, which, after some difficulty,
Cyrus settled with that tact and knowledge of mankind for
which he was so remarkable.
Not long after the army had marched from this place, that
is, probably, during the first day from the Pylse, the dung of
the horses, and other traces of a body of horsemen, supposed
to be about 2,000, were perceived, who had probably been em-
1 Anabasis, lib. I ., cap. iv,, v. 3 See Map No. 3.
3 See Maps Nos. 5 and 7.
4 As there is no other site on the right bank of the river, the position
alluded to may have been near Jibbah, an island, opposite to which, on that
bank, there are some ruins at fifty-eight miles from ’A'nah, and thirty or
thirty-two from Hit.
ployed in destroying the forage. Under pretence of preventing
this operation, but in reality to communicate with Artaxerxes,
Orontas, a Persian nobleman, volunteered to pursue them; but
his real purpose having been ascertained, by a letter prepared
to be sent to Artaxerxes, and having been pardoned on two
previous occasions, Cyrus ordered that there should be held a
court-martial of his countrymen, who sentenced him to death,1
and he was not seen subsequently; but whether privately death,
executed or not, did not then appear.
Having in three days advanced twelve parasangs, through Cyrus reviews
Mesopotamia, Cyrus reviewed his forces, and put them in midnighta
order of battle at midnight.2 Expecting to engage the king on
the following day, ftie prince, with his usual tact, addressed his
followers in the most animated and, to soldiers, the most encouraging
language. They were told that the satrapies of an
empire, which extended so far south as to be uninhabitable
through heat, and so far north, that the people perished from
cold, would soon be at his disposal, and that he would adorn
the brows of the generals with the coronets of princes, his only
apprehension being, lest he might not have a sufficient number
of friends to fill the other situations.3
The census taken, showed that the various levies raised in
the maritime and Greek states amounted to 10,400 heavyarmed
men, and 2,400 targeteers, with nearly 20 scythed
chariots, in addition to a mixed force of 100,000 Asiatics. The
army of Artaxerxes, according to some deserters from it, was
reported to be 1,200,000 infantry, 6,000 horse, and 200 armed
chariots; large bodies of this force being commanded by Abro-
camas, Tissaphernes, Gobryas, and Arbaces. But as the first
was not present with his contingent, the actual number was only Estimate of
r . . • ' t h e contending 900,000 men, and 150 armed chariots, or 400,000 horse and toot, armies,
according to the more moderate estimate of Diodorus Siculus.5
The position of the king was admirably suited to cover the
capital, for, in addition to an army, which according to the
lesser estimate (allowing three followers for each soldier)
1 Anabasis, lib. I., cap. vi.
3 Anabasis, lib. I ., cap. vii.
3 Lib. X IV ., cap. ix.
! See Map No. 7.
4 Ibid., cap. viii.