Persia from the Earliest Period to the Arab

HISTORY OF PERSIA. 177
Berrhaea or Aleppo, and soon encompassed the
walls of Antioch, with his irresistible arms
The first intelligence from the East, which Heraclius
(the successor of Phocas) received, was that of the loss
of Antioch :
but the ancient metropolis, so often over-
turned by earthquakes, or pillaged by an enemy, could
supply but a small and languid stream of treasure and
blood. The Persians were equally successful, and
more fortunate in the sack of Caesarea, the capital of
Cappadocia, and, as they advanced beyond the ram-
parts of the frontiers, the boundary of ancient war,
they found a less obstinate resistance and a more
plentiful harvest The conquest of Jerusalem,
which had been meditated by Nushirwdn, was achieved
by the zeal of his grandson The sepulchre
of Christ, and the stately churches of Helena and
Constantine were consumed, or at least damaged by
the flames ; the devout offerings of three hundred years
were rifled in one sacrilegious day. Egypt itself, the
only province which had been exempt since the time
of Diocletian from foreign and domestic war, was
again subdued by the successors of Cyrus. Pelusium
the key of that impervious country, was surprised by
the cavalry of the Persians .... and Chosroes entered
the second city of the empire (Alexandria), which
still retained a wealthy remnant of industry and com-
merce In the first campaign, another army
advanced from the Euphrates to the Thracian Bospho-
Chalcedon surrendered after a long siege, and a
rus ;
Persian camp was maintained for ten years in the
presence of Constantinople. The sea coast of Pontus,
the city of Ancyra, and the Island of Rhodes, are