Page 666 About this time in Pontus, after the Death of Parysadas, King of the Cimmerian Bosphorus, his Sons Eumelus, Satyrus, and Prytanis, contended one with another for the Kingdom: Satyrus, the Eldest was appointed Successor by his Father, who reign'd Eight and Thirty Years.
Eumelus compacting with some of the Natives adjoining, rais'd an Army, and laid claim to the Kingdom against his Elder Brother; of which Satyrus being inform'd, went against him with a great Army, and passing the River Thapsus, when he came near his Camp with his Carts and Wagons, wherein he had brought an infinite quantity of Provision; and ranging afterwards his Army in the Field, (after the manner of the Scythian Kings) he led the main Battel himself. He had not in his Army above Two thousand Greeks, and as many Thracians; all the rest were Scythians, which came to assist him, to the number of Twenty thousand, and no less than Ten thousand Horse. Eumelus was assisted by Ariophames, King of Thrace, with Twenty thousand Horse, and Two and twenty thousand Foot. Between these Forces a bloody Battel was fought, wherein Satyrus (who had with him a choice Party of brave Horse) encountred first with Ariopharnes in a Skirmish of Horse; who likewise commanded the middle Battel opposite to Satyrus; many fell on both sides; at length he forc'd his way through, and put the Barbarian King to flight, and being the first in the pursuit put every Man to the Sword that was in his way. But when he heard, that his Brother Eumelus in the right Wing, had routed the Mercenaries, he left off the Pursuit, and made up to the Succor of those that fled, and regain'd the day, and utterly broke and routed the whole Army, putting them all to flight; so that he gave a clear Testimony that he justly deserv'd to Wear the Crown, as well upon the Account of his Valour, as upon the Privilege of his Birth.
Ariopharnes and Eumelus thus beaten, fled into the King's Palace, which was inviron'd with the River Thasis, of an exceeding depth, so that the Place was of difficult approach; it was surrounded likewise with steep Rocks and thick Woods, into which there were only two Entrances made by Art: One leading straight to the Palace, defended with high Towers and Bulwarks; the other on the other side, was made in the Fens, guarded with Forts and Towers of Timber, rais'd upon Pillars over the Water. The Place being very strong, Satyrus first wasted the Enemy's Country, and burnt their Towns, whence he carry'd a vast Number of Prisoners, and abundance of Spoil. Afterwards he attempted to force his way through the Passes, but losing many of his Men at the Bulwarks and Towers, he was forc'd to Retreat. But making an Attack upon that side towards the Fenns, he took the Timber-Forts which he demolish'd, and then pass'd the River. Upon which he began to fell a Wood, through which he must needs pass to the Palace; and while these attempts were carrying on in great Earnestness, King Ariopharnes fearing lest the Castle should be taken by Storm, valiantly fell upon them, perceiving there were no hopes of safety remaining but in an absolute Victory. He plac'd likewise Archers on both sides the Passage, by whom he sore gall'd the Fellers of the Wood, because they could neither see the Arrows before they pierc'd them, nor come at the Archers, nor return the like upon them, by reason of the thick and close standing of the Trees. However, Satyrus his Soldiers continu'd falling the Wood, and opening a Way to the Palace, for three Days together, though with great Toil and Hazard; the Fourth day they came under the Wall. But being worsted through showers of Arrows and straightness of the Places, they sustain'd very great loss: For Meniscus (who led the Mercenary Companies) having got in at a Passage (though he Fought very manfully) was nevertheless (being over-laid with the Multitude within) forc'd to retreat: Whom Satyrus seeing in such imminent Danger, came up to him with seasonable Relief, and bearing up against the Enemy's Charge, was run through the Arm with a Spear, which was so sore, that it forc'd him to retire to his Camp, and the next Night died of the Wound, having reign'd scarce nine Months after the Death of Parasydas his Father. Hereupon, Meniscus, Captain of the Mercenaries, breaking up the Siege drew off the Army to a City call'd Gargaza, and from thence carry'd the King's Body down the River, to a City call'd Pantacapeum, to his Brother Prytanis, who having magnificently bury'd it, and laid up the Reliques in the King's Sepulchre, went presently to Gargaza, and there took into his hands the Army, together with the Kingdom
Hereupon, came the Agents of Eumelus to him to treat concerning the parting of the Kingdom between them two, which he would not hearken to: Leaving therefore a strong Garison at Gargara, he return'd to Pantacapeum, there to settle the Affairs of his Kingdom. But a while after, Eumelus, by the help of some Babarians, possess'd himself of Gargara, and sundry other Towns and Castles. Whereupon, Prytanis march'd with an Army against him, but was overthrown in a Battel by his Brother; and being shut up
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