Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

336 HISTORY OF PERSIA chap.
two years the campaign on the whole went in his favour ;
but in 217 B.C. the Egyptian preparations, which included
the engagement of large numbers of Greek mercenaries,
were completed, and Ptolemy marched northwards across
the desert. He met Antiochus at Raphia, on the northern
edge of the waste. The fighting was severe. The Indian
elephants of Antiochus drove back the African elephants
on to the Egyptians, and thereupon Antiochus broke the
Egyptian left by a charge and it pursued for miles. On
the other flank the situation was reversed. There the
two phalanxes met, and at the first charge the Seleucid
army fled in disorder. Ptolemy was satisfied with this
success and readily made peace, leaving the discredited
Antiochus to face the unscrupulous Achaeus.
In 216 B.C. Antiochus marched across the Taurus, and
although no details have reached us he was evidently successful
; for two years later we read of his besieging
Achaeus in Sardes. In the end, through an act ot
treachery, the details of which are more thrilling
to read
than many a romance, Achaeus was thrown bound into
the royal tent at night and put to a cruel death. This
campaign re-established the supremacy of the house of
Seleucus in Central Asia Minor, and led to an agreement
with Attalus wh^th left Antiochus free to turn his arms
eastwards. //
Arsace/^/lII, and Antiochus the Great^ 209 B.C.—We
now return to Parthia. Artabanus on his succession to
the throne assumed the title of Arsaces III., and, like his
father, took advantage of the difficulties of the house of
Seleucus, at this period engaged in fighting Achaeus, to
extend the sway of Parthia. The Mardian territory was
first overrun, and the Parthians then passed the famous
Caspian Gates, on the west side of which lay Media
Rhagiana, with Rhages and other cities. important Media
Magna, with its capital, Ecbatana, was next occupied ;
and it seemed probable that Artabanus would descend the
gorges of the Zagros, when his advance was effectually
checked. After the death of Achaeus, Antiochus first invaded
Armenia, and in 209 b.c. he marched into Media
and occupied Ecbatana, which was not defended by the