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It was night.  The Persian soldiers, their position being unfortified, were in order of battle, ready to meet any unexpected attack.  The foot-soldiers stood leaning on their shields, the horsemen held their horses saddled and bridled near the camp-fires.  Cambyses was riding through the ranks, encouraging his troops by words and looks.  Only one part of the army was not yet ranged in order of battle—­the centre.  It was composed of the Persian body-guard, the apple-bearers, Immortals, and the king’s own relatives, who were always led into battle by the king in person.

The Ionian Greeks too had gone to rest, at Phanes’ command.  He wanted to keep his men fresh, and allowed them to sleep in their armor, while he kept watch.  Aristomachus was welcomed with shouts of joy by the Greeks, and kindly by Cambyses, who assigned him, at the head of one half the Greek troops, a place to the left of the centre attack, while Phanes, with the other half, had his place at the right.  The king himself was to take the lead at the head of the ten thousand Immortals, preceded by the blue, red and gold imperial banner and the standard of Kawe.  Bartja was to lead the regiment of mounted guards numbering a thousand men, and that division of the cavalry which was entirely clothed in mail.

Croesus commanded a body of troops whose duty it was to guard the camp with its immense treasures, the wives of Cambyses’ nobles, and his own mother and sister.

At last Mithras appeared and shed his light upon the earth; the spirits of the night retired to their dens, and the Magi stirred up the sacred fire which had been carried before the army the whole way from Babylon, until it became a gigantic flame.  They and the king united in feeding it with costly perfumes, Cambyses offered the sacrifice, and, holding the while a golden bowl high in the air, besought the gods to grant him victory and glory.  He then gave the password, “Auramazda, the helper and guide,” and placed himself at the head of his guards, who went into the battle with wreaths on their tiaras.  The Greeks offered their own sacrifices, and shouted with delight on hearing that the omens were auspicious.  Their war-cry was “Hebe.”

Meanwhile the Egyptian priests had begun their day also with prayer and sacrifice, and had then placed their army in order of battle.

Psamtik, now King of Egypt, led the centre.  He was mounted on a golden chariot; the trappings of his horses were of gold and purple, and plumes of ostrich feathers nodded on their proud heads.  He wore the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, and the charioteer who stood at his left hand holding the reins and whip, was descended from one of the noblest Egyptian families.

The Hellenic and Karian mercenaries were to fight at the left of the centre, the horse at the extreme of each wing, and the Egyptian and Ethiopian foot were stationed, six ranks deep, on the right and left of the armed chariots, and Greek mercenaries.