Extraordinary greater consequence, was defended by the brave and talented
efforts of the 2 ... ^ t ■ t . • J Persians. Eucilianus, the father-in-law or Jovian.- Battering rams and.
mines having proved ineffectual, Sapor turned the Mygdonius,
in the hope of depriving the defenders of water; but as the
cisterns and wells still gave a supply this project failed, and
Sapor resorted to another contrivance, which was familiar to
the Persians. This was the construction of a series of bunds,
to collect such a body of water above the town, as might inundate
the country, and, as he hoped, the city also. The
former part of the plan was accomplished, but owing to the
elevation of the site, the latter failed. Boats carrying engines
were now floated alongside the walls, but the attack, though
Failure of the continued for some days, was repulsed. Seventy days having
n.Vi.Iki'iibeen consumed in various efforts, it was determined to make a
Nisibiu. final attempt by collecting such a mass of water as would rush
with irresistible force along the bed of the river, and in so
doing, carry away part of the defences. A hundred cubits of
wall were levelled by this contrivance, and the Persians immediately
assaulted the plape; but owing to a violent thunderstorm
at the moment, they were repulsed with the loss of 10,000
men.1
Sapor raises In spite of renewed attacks, the besieged repaired the breach,
the siege. anfi once more prepared to oppose their enemies. Sapor continued
to persevere, till news of the invasion of the Massagetse
added to famine and sickness among his troops, obliged him to
a .d . 350. bum his engines, and terminate a siege of four months’ duration,
in order to march towards the Oxus.2
a .d . 355. Four years later Constantius appointed his cousin Julian, the
philosopher, governor of Gaul, where, as well as in other parts
of Europe, he distinguished himself as an able general, and thus
prepared himself for those extensive and more important operations
which will presently be noticed.
Sapor Beverting to Persia, the ever-active Sapor, hoping at this
again invades jm)Ct u r e to be able to recover Armenia and Mesopotamia,- took the Roman J . x
dominions. • the field for this purpose, and passed the ligris near JNineveh
on a bridge of boats. But finding the country wasted in the
1 Julian., Orat. l,p p . 2 7 ,2 8 ; Orat. 2 , pp. 6 2 -6 3 ; Spanheim’s edit., 16 9 6 ;
Zonar., lib. X I I I ., p. 1 4 ; Zosim., lib. I I I ., p. 161 ; Ju l. Theoph., p. 33.
s Zonar., lib. XV ., cap. vii.