ROMAN RIGHT

The battle commences with the Parthian left wing, consisting of the Cilicians, 5000 cataphracts and 2500 Damascenes, advancing up the hill towards the Roman right. Malichus's Nabataeans pour fire onto the cataphracts but are kept at bay by the Parthian horse archers, who also try to disrupt the Egyptian phalanx with concentrated fire. The cataphracts engage the Egyptians while the Cilicians probe the gap between the XXVth Legion and the Egyptians and the Damascenes protecting the Parthian left flank. Malichus turns his attention to the Damascenes and for the rest of the battle continually probes them, looking for an opening.

CENTRE

The Nabataean infantry serving Orodes along with the remaining 1300 cataphracts attack the gap between the XXVth Legion and the Egyptians on thier left, however, before they reach the Roman lines, the Nabataeans veer to their left and attack the Cilicians in the flank. The cataphracts quickly attack the defecting Nabataeans in the rear and annihilate them. The left flank of the XXVth Legion take advantage and bog down the remaining cataphracts in close quarter fighting.

ROMAN LEFT

The Parthian pikemen ten climb the hill and engage the Egyptians on the Roman left. Sextus Pompeius quickly sends Phaesal and his Judaeans to extend the lines. Sabru then tries to round the flank but the pikemen prevent him from doing so, leaving Sabru in the same position as Malichus

ROMAN RIGHT

Meanwhile, the Egyptians on the Roman right start to crumble under the weight of the cataphracts. Seeing this, Sextus orders two cohorts from the XXVth Legion to move across to aid the Egyptians and commits the reserve cohort as well. In response and seeing the chance to push through the enemy lines, Orodes tells his Damascenes to push up the hill to aid the Parthian advance, however, under intense close range fire from Malichus's Nabataeans, they can not move very far

ROMAN LEFT

Under cover from Sabru's Nabataeans, the Roman legionary cavalry, reinforced by the 500 desert cavalry from the reserve, round the Roman flank and successfully attack the Parthian pikemen in their flank. Assailed from two sides, the pikemen fight on bravely but at length broke. Instead of giving chase, Sabru leads the Roman left across the line sot attack the Parthian centre.

ROMAN RIGHT

Seeing the imminent danger of a massive defeat, Orodes orders a general retreat and crosses back over the Jordan with his Roman bodyguard and remainng Damascenes. Under covering fire from their horse archers, almost the entirety of the Parthian left flank is able to withdraw in good order. The pikemen are not so lucky. Tired by the long fighting up hill, they are quickly run down by Sabru and the Roman cavalry. The infantry part of the Roman force remain on the hill.

RESULTS

Orodes's army suffered badly due to the Roman position on the hill and in particular due to the bravery of the Egyptians, who bore the brunt of the Parthians attacks. The Parthian plan to isolate the XXVth Legion worked well but when they were called into action, they were ruthless. The defection of Orodes's Nabataeans proved to be vital as it stopped the Parthian attack on the Roman left and allowed the XXVth to eat up the dangerous cataphracts. Malichus, despite being unable to make a big difference, by stopping the Damascenes joining the attack on the Roman right, played a pivotal role.

Of the personalities involved in the fighting, the Egyptian commander Demetrius fell, valiantly protecting the Roman right flank and Phaesal, eldest son of Antipater and commander of the Judaean forces, was seriously wounded by a Parthian pike.

In the aftermath, there was a brief truce to allow both sides to retrieve the many dead on both sides. The numbers of dead were particualrly high as neither side could afford to take prisoners. Each section of Sextus's army was allowed to give prayers to whatever gods they worshipped.


PARTHIAN CASUALTIES

Pikemen ...all 5000 dead
Cataphracts ...3909 of 6300 dead
Nabataeans ...all 1000 dead
Cilicians ...1229 of 5000 dead
Horse Archers ...313 of 3500 dead
Damascenes ...288 of 5000 dead
Bodyguard ...0 of 200 dead

TOTAL: 11,739 of 26,000 dead leaving 14,261

ROMAN CASUALTIES

Nabataeans ...936 of 7000 dead
Judaeans ...709 of 1500 dead
Egyptians ...4370 of 7000 dead
Roman cavalry ...11 of 250 dead
Desert cavalry ...19 of 500 dead
XXVth legion ...350 of 5280 dead
Camel Corps ...0 of 500 dead
Sextus's Cohort ...131 of 528 dead

TOTAL: 6526 of 22,558 dead leaving 16,032