Page:Political History of Parthia.pdf/129

Rh vasdes the Armenian, who advised Crassus to advance by way of Armenia and thus keep in the hills, where the Parthian cavalry would be least useful. His advice and support were refused, and he rode away.

Crassus crossed the Euphrates at Zeugma with a force which numbered about forty-two thousand, including four thousand cavalry and a like number of light-armed men. Opposed to these troops were ten thousand cavalrymen (ten dragons ), munitioned by a thousand camels which carried additional supplies of arrows. These forces were in command of Suren, the Parthian commander in chief, assisted by the satrap Silaces; for Orodes, taking with him the bulk of the infantry, had gone to Armenia to hold in check Artavasdes the king and to await the Roman attack, which he had every reason to expect would fall in that direction. But even Orodes was unable to