y through the ramparts
on the left bank, and rapidly transported the bulk of their forces
into the very centre of the enemy's position. The principal body of the
Chaldaean troops were still at Opis, cut off from the capital; Cyrus
fell upon them, overcame them on the banks of the Zalzallat in the early
days of Tammuz, urging forward Gobryas meanwhile upon Babylon itself.*
On the 14th of Tammuz, Nabonidus evacuated Sippar, which at once fell
into the hands of the Persian outposts; on the 16th Gobryas entered
Babylon without striking a blow, and Nabonidus surrendered himself a
prisoner.**

* For the strategic interpretation of the events of this
campaign I have generally adopted the explanations of
Billerbeck. Herodotus' account with regard to the river
Gyndes is probably a reminiscence of alterations made in the
river-courses at the time of the attack in the direction of
Bagdad.

** The _Cylinder of Cyrus_, 1. 17, expressly says so:
"Without combat or battle did Marduk make him enter
Babylon," The _Annals of Nabonidus_ confirm this testimony
of the official account.

The victorious army had received orders to avoid all excesses which
would offend the people; they respected the property of the citizens and
of the temples, placed a strong detachment around E-sagilla to protect
it from plunder, and no armed soldier was allowed within the enclosure
until the king' had determined on the fate of the vanquished. Cyrus
arrived after a fortnight had elapsed, on the 3rd of March-esvan, and
his first act was one of clemency. He prohibited all pillage, granted
mercy to the inhabitants, and entrusted the government of the city to
Gobryas. Bel-sharuzur, the son of Nabonidus, remained to be dealt
with, and his energetic nature might have been the cause of serious
difficulties had he been allowed an opportunity of rallying the last
partisans of the dynasty around him. Gobryas set out to attack him, and
on the 11th of March-esvan succeeded in surprising and slaying him. With
him perished the last hope of the Chaldaeans, and the nobles and towns,
still hesitating on what course to pursue, now vied with each other in
their haste to tender submission. The means of securing their good
will, at all events for the moment, was clearly at hand, and it was used
without any delay: their gods were at once restored to them. This exodus
extended over nearly two months, during March-esvan and Adar,