It would seem that the Persians were surprised at the moderation of these demands.  Their exact value and force will require some discussion; but at any rate it is clear that, under the circumstances, they were not felt to be excessive.  Narses did not dispute any of them except the last:  and it seems to have been rather because he did not wish it to be said that he had yielded everything, than because the condition was really very onerous, that he made objection in this instance.  Sicorius was fortunately at liberty to yield the point.  He at once withdrew the fifth article of the treaty, and, the other four being accepted, a formal peace was concluded between the two nations.

To understand the real character of the peace now made, and to appreciate properly the relations thereby established between Rome and Persia, it will be necessary to examine at some length the several conditions of the treaty, and to see exactly what was imported by each of them.  There is scarcely one out of the whole number that carries its meaning plainly upon its face; and on the more important very various interpretations have been put, so that a discussion and settlement of some rather intricate points is here necessary.

(i.) There is a considerable difference of opinion as to the five provinces ceded to Rome by the first article of the treaty, as to their position and extent, and consequently as to their importance.  By some they are put on the right, by others on the left, bank of the Tigris; while of those who assign them this latter position some place them in a cluster about the sources of the river, while others extend them very much further to the southward.  Of the five provinces three only can be certainly named, since the authorities differ as to the two others.  These three are Arzanene, Cordyene, and Zabdicene, which occur in that order in Patricius.  If we can determine the position of these three, that of the others will follow, at least within certain limits.

Now Arzanene was certainly on the left bank of the Tigris.  It adjoined Armenia, and is reasonably identified with the modern district of Kherzan, which lies between Lake Van and the Tigris, to the west of the Bitlis river.  All the notices of Arzanene suit this locality; and the name “Kherzan” may be regarded as representing the ancient appellation.

Zabdicene was a little south and a little east of this position.  It was the tract about a town known as Bezabda (perhaps a corruption of Beit-Zabda), which had been anciently called Phoenica.  This town is almost certainly represented by the modern Fynyk, on the left bank of the Tigris, a little above Jezireh.  The province whereof it was the capital may perhaps have adjoined Arzanene, reaching as far north as the Bitlis river.