It may be suspected that Seleucia, the second city in the Empire, embraced his cause.

Babylon, into which he had thrown himself, sustained a long siege on his behalf, and only yielded when compelled by famine.

Mithridates might again have become a fugitive; but he was weary of the disappointments and hardships which are the ordinary lot of a pretender, and preferred to cast himself on the mercy and affection of his brother.
Accordingly he surrendered himself unconditionally to Orodes; but this prince, professing to place the claims of patriotism above those of relationship, caused the traitor who had sought aid from Rome to be instantly executed.

Thus perished Mithridates III.

after a reign which cannot have exceeded five years, in the winter of B.C.56, or the early spring of B.C.55.