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Having passed the Halys with the forces under his command, Croesus
entered the district of Cappadocia which is called Pteria. It lies
in the neighbourhood of the city of Sinope upon the Euxine, and is
the strongest position in the whole country thereabouts. Here Croesus
pitched his camp, and began to ravage the fields of the Syrians. He
besieged and took the chief city of the Pterians, and reduced the
inhabitants to slavery: he likewise made himself master of the
surrounding villages. Thus he brought ruin on the Syrians, who were
guilty of no offence towards him. Meanwhile, Cyrus had levied an
army and marched against Croesus, increasing his numbers at every step
by the forces of the nations that lay in his way. Before beginning his
march he had sent heralds to the Ionians, with an invitation to them
to revolt from the Lydian king: they, however, had refused
compliance. Cyrus, notwithstanding, marched against the enemy, and
encamped opposite them in the district of Pteria, where the trial of
strength took place between the contending powers. The combat was hot
and bloody, and upon both sides the number of the slain was great; nor
had victory declared in favour of either party, when night came down
upon the battle-field. Thus both armies fought valiantly.
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