Cambyses, who commanded in the town, was mortally wounded and fell into the enemy's hands.

The army in the field, finding itself between two fires, broke and fled towards the interior, bent on defending Pasargadse, the capital.

Meanwhile Astyages, having given Cambyses honorable burial, pressed on in pursuit.
The country had now become rugged and difficult.

Between Pasargadse and the place where the two days' battle was fought lay a barrier of lofty hills, only penetrated by a single narrow pass.

On either side were two smooth surfaces of rock, while the mountain towered above, lofty and precipitous.