My HOTT Cyropaedia army includes Gobryas and Gadatas, two of Cyrus’ trusted lieutenants, as an element of sneakers. According to Xenophon they played a pivotal role in the capture of the King Nabonidus’ palace in Babylon by stealth (and quite a bit of violence).
This post is a companion piece to
Cyrus at the Gates of Babylon
According to Xenophon, Cyrus had defeated the Babylonian king Nabonidus in open battle. The Babylonians had withdrawn behind the mighty walls of the great city and Cyrus prepared to lay siege. The Babylonians remained confident, as they had supplies enough to last 20 years.
I depicted Gobryas and Gadatas as being in disguise as Babylonians.
Cyrus had his men dig great trenches in preparation for diverting the Euphrates river which flowed through the city.
The works were completed at the same time as the Babylonians were holding a high festival, during which everyone would be drinking and revelling all night long.
Cyrus saw his opportunity and as soon as it was dark, and opened the trenches and diverted the river.
As they were familiar with the city, Cyrus sent two trusted lieutenants, Gobryas and Gadatas and a detachment of soldiers, ahead to enter the royal palace by stealth.
The Remaining Ruins of Babylon*
Gobryas was a provincial governor and senior commander of Cyrus’ army. Gadatas was a handsome young Babylonian nobleman whom Nabonidus had had castrated for flirting with one of his concubines. Unsurprisingly, Gadatas defected to Cyrus the Great seeking vengeance.
Reconstruction of the Babylon’s Ishtar Gate**
The plan was to take advantage of the Babylonians being drunk and unprepared for attack. Meanwhile, Cyrus readied his army to enter Babylon through the dry riverbed.
Carrying flaming torches, Gobryas, Gadatas and their men entered the city.
By pretending to be noisy revellers themselves they covered the shouts of those they killed on their way.
Arriving at the palace gates, they fell upon the guards who sat drinking by a blazing fire. The palace gates were locked but fortunately King Nabonidus sent out some companions to investigate the commotion.
A Mushkhusshu Dragon from the Ishtar Gate***
With the citadel’s gates now open, Gobryas, Gadatas and their men saw their opportunity. They dispatched this new enemy and dashed into the palace. The King and the rest of his companions were surprised and after a brief struggle Nabonidus was captured and his companions killed.
Gobryas and Gadatas found Cyrus, who had secured control over the rest of the city and told him that King Nabonidus was his.
That’ll do me as an example of a Sneaker unit.
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Picture Attributions:
*The Remaining Ruins of Babylon
**Reconstruction of the Babylon’s Ishtar Gate
***A Mushkhusshu Dragon from the Ishtar Gate
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