Sennacherib boasts that early in his reign, about B.C.702, he received an embassy from the remoter parts of Media--"parts of which the kings his fathers had not even heard"-- which brought him presents in sign of submission, and patiently accepted his yoke.

His son, Esar-haddon, relates that, about his tenth year (B.C.
671) he invaded Bikni or Bikan, a distant province of Media, "whereof the kings his fathers had never heard the name;" and, attacking the cities of the region one after another, forced them to acknowledge his authority.

The country was held by a number of independent chiefs, each bearing sway in his own city and adjacent territory.

These chiefs have unmistakably Arian names, as Sitriparna or Sitraphernes, Eparna or Orphernes, Zanasana or Zanasanes, and Eamatiya or Ramates.

Esar-haddon says that, having entered the country with his army, he seized two of the chiefs and carried them off to Assyria, together with a vast spoil and numerous other captives.