hers prefer to believe
that Arpad was still in the hands of the Assyrians, and that
Tiglath-pileser used it as his base of operations. The
formula ina Arpadda in the Eponym Canon proves that Tiglath-
pileser was certainly in Arpad: since Arpad belonged to the
Bit-Agusi, and they were the allies or vassals of Sharduris,
we must assume, as I have done here, that in the absence of
the Urartians they did not dare to resist the Assyrians, and
opened their gates to them.

There, while he was making ready to claim the homage of the surrounding
countries, he learnt that Sharduris was hastening up to the rescue. He
at once struck his camp and marched out to meet his rival, coming up
with him in the centre of Kummukh, not far from the Euphrates, between
Kishtan and Khalpi. Sharduris was at the head of his Syrian contingents,
including the forces of Agusi, Melitene, Kummukh, and Gurgum--a
formidable army, probably superior in point of numbers to that of the
Assyrians. The struggle lasted a whole day, and in the course of it the
two kings, catching sight of one another on the field of battle, engaged
in personal combat: at last, towards evening, the chariots and cavalry
of Urartu gave way and the rout began. The victors made their way into
the camp at the heels of their flying enemies. Sharduris abandoned his
chariot, and could find nothing but a mare to aid him in his flight;
he threw himself upon her back, careless of the ridicule at that time
attached to the use of such a mount in Eastern countries,* fled at a
gallop all through the night, hard pressed by a large body of cavalry,
crossed the hills of Sibak, and with much difficulty reached the bridge
over the Euphrates.

* So, too, later on, in the time of Sargon, Rusas, when
defeated, gets on the back of a mare and rides off.

His pursuers drew rein on the river-bank, and Sharduris re-entered
his kingdom in safety. He had lost nearly 73,000 men, killed or taken
prisoners, in addition to his chariots, and nearly the whole train of
horses, asses, servants, and artisans attached to his army; he left his
tent still standing, and those who were first to enter it laid hands
on his furniture and effects, his royal ornaments, his bed and portable
throne, with its cushions and bearing-poles, none of which had he found
time to take with him. Tiglath-pileser burnt them all on the spot as a
thank-offering, to the gods who had so signally