Realizing there was no end to the arrows, Crassus decided that they had no push forward.
![Crassus talks to Publius. "Publius, this isn't going as expected"](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_72c7230ddd24422c9e69bf4980bd5d89~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_733,h_454,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/P1_candpub%20talk2.png)
![Crassus sends Publius away](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_07106e5fc1644bde82f3c5e730d1b980~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_73,h_49,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/P3_publius_on_horse2.png)
![Publius and crassus say goodbye](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_cb4b3ba3092c4d3db66ae5b9c2add1e1~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_73,h_49,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/P3_publius_on_horse1.png)
![Crassus tells Publius to take the Gallic Cavalry.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_1ac3004079ca4918bda88255a4bb7145~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_730,h_523,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/P2_crassussaysgo.png)
![Lots-of-sparkles.gif](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_4f44ee1fb44c4c41ba580f7ce6d53e85~mv2.gif)
Publius charged forward attacking the Parthians.
![Battle of Carrhae troop movments](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_32572c5131654b738900b8e8a0b0cb17~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_81,h_61,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/p4_army_movement_v2.png)
Surena retreated back, allowing Publius to charge after them.
![Parthian shot](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_0a81168b4511435482aaa5f76b4eb332~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_68,h_45,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/hrsesrun1.png)
![Parthian shot](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_cd8bdb3414a84c9fbfab6387ec646e30~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_68,h_45,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/hrsesrun2.png)
![Lots-of-sparkles.gif](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_4f44ee1fb44c4c41ba580f7ce6d53e85~mv2.gif)
The Parthians had mastered the art of turning in their saddles and shooting at targets behind them. This is called the Parthian shot.
But once Publius was far enough from the main Roman army, Surena surrounded them.
![Publius fights the Parthians on horseback](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_2eb51f76677a456188ba6f894d636765~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_81,h_62,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/horses1.png)
![Gallic Calvary fight heavily armoured Cataphracts](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_6a76955e3ade4a568718fb11270fcc86~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_70,h_51,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/p2_galic_onfoot2.png)
The Gallic cavalry fought like TOTAL BADASSES
![Gallic Calvary fight heavily armoured Cataphracts](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_345e2930ab814002aee2f37dbb77d328~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_72,h_57,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/p3_underbelly_badass2.png)
Ripping the Parthian's Spears from their hands.
and diving underneath the Cataphracts to hit their unarmored bellies.
But the Gauls were simply not prepared for fighting in the desert. Their armor was too light, and their spears were too short. Publius' unit was completely decimated.
![publius_defeated2.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_726f7a2563444da0b578abb2b8b11334~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_69,h_62,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/publius_defeated2.png)
Publius having realized the battle was hopeless, retreated to a nearby hill.
![p2_crassus_shocked_v2.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_652489558b8e43288abee353a70256c7~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_82,h_69,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/p2_crassus_shocked_v2.png)
![galics surrender V2.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_fc3a69a8320143e9b344cbf0e782cdaa~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_79,h_62,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/galics%20surrender%20V2.png)
where he opted to commit suicide instead of being captured.
![empty box2.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_cf94b41320ef44dca4e6e0d7b722e614~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_92,h_32,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/empty%20box2.png)
500 of Publius' forces survived and surrendered to the Parthians.
![p_1_publius_head_on_spike_V21.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_aa6196158c414e14a0bf638dff631cf4~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_67,h_68,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/p_1_publius_head_on_spike_V21.png)
The Parthians mounted Publius' head on a pike and rode it back to Crassus.
![p_1_publius_head_on_spike_V22.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_89150c9b908548578fd7536df79e989a~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_67,h_68,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/p_1_publius_head_on_spike_V22.png)
![Lots-of-sparkles.gif](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_4f44ee1fb44c4c41ba580f7ce6d53e85~mv2.gif)
At night, the Parthians pulled back to rest. (the Romans were on foot, they weren't going to get anywhere fast)
![p_3_parthian_camp2.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_9d5904e39ff34cc39509ff450cde88c1~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_71,h_55,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/p_3_parthian_camp2.png)
At this point, I would like to remind you that the Parthians are the underdog in this story, and were Outnumbered 4 to 1
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_2fde0dd49a804a6ba2f16916bc615c23~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_67,h_53,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/mutiney_P1_B.png)
With Crassus a complete mess, the Legionnaire Officers basically mutinied.
![Roman Centurian takes command of the legion, not a mutiny.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_dd22d2e7e00c42b0a08dac5de41ecee3~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_65,h_51,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/mutiney_P2B.png)
Crassus didn't fight for his command.
The Romans decided to sneak away, and head for the town of Carrhae. The situation was so dire that the wounded were left behind.
![Roman Soldiers Leave wounded behind, Battle of Carrhae](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_350352f4e3e64391ac7d616472148723~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_67,h_41,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/p1a%CC%8Aandon1.png)
![Roman Soldiers left to die](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_c59e3477501b45e0b1cacecc4fc7a15f~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_69,h_42,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/p2_abandon_cu2.png)
![Romans leave the wounded behind](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_8823d628b23447fe84a4b63f30f0a74b~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_75,h_58,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/p3_walkingaway1.png)
The cries of the wounded alerted the Parthians.
![Romans escape to Carrhae during the night](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_c3c2d84fb1764db1b2d177a6193786b8~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_47,h_109,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/p4_march_to_carhae.png)
![empty box2.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_cf94b41320ef44dca4e6e0d7b722e614~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_90,h_31,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/empty%20box2.png)
During the escape, the soldiers who fell behind were also abandoned.
By morning only a few made it to Carrhae.
![whiteboxthicker.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/01407a_87d2b0927954480abfda0e2d912af273~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_75,h_39,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/whiteboxthicker.png)
In the dark, groups of soldiers got separated and lost.