[4][5]Cylaces and Artabannes commenced the siege of Artogerassa, and for a time pressed it with vigor, while they strongly urged the garrison to make their submission.

But, having entered within the walls to negotiate, they were won over by the opposite side, and joined in planning a treachorous attack on the besieging force, which was surprised at night and compelled to retire.

[6] By carefully calculated flattery mingled with perjury Shapur, tricked King Arsaces; for after being invited to a banquet he was taken according to orders to a secret rear-door; there after his eyes had been gouged out, he was bound in silver chains, which among that people is regarded as a consolation, though an empty one, for the punishment of men of rank, and then he was banished to a fortress called Agabana, where after being tortured he was slain by the penal steel.

[7] After sending Pap to safety in Roman Cappadocia, Parandzem manned the watchtowers every night at Artogerassa in the Caucasus Mountains on the Aras River and brandished torches to show her resolve.

[8] The clash ended in 368 in epidemic and hunger that wiped out most of Queen Parandzem's eleven thousand-man army and forced her surrender.