The city of Hatra was one of the most bustling place in the Parthian Empire at the time. Exotic goods from the east arrive here from the other provinces and beyond the empires boundaries. Slaves are also being traded in here. From different corners of the empire a conglomerate of different cultures gather at the the slave trading area as a common merchandise, stripped of their values as humans, slaves are a caste of people who compose the very bottom of the Parthian Empire.
Thankfully they are prisoners of war. Prisoners of War experience a different treatment in the empire. Captured enemy soldiers are sent to the borders of the empire and are utilized border guards which becomes a great deterrent of sorts for the prisoners.
Near the gates of Hatra...
"Stop! Prepare for inspection..."
Said by one of the gate guards. Before they were allowed to enter the prisoners were stripped of their equipment until only their undergarments were the only thing that was left of them. The prisoners were searched by batch by the guards for any undiscovered weapons to ensure the safety within the city.
"So can we enter now?"
Asked by one of the soldiers responsible for escorting the prisoners.
"You can go in, by the way congratulations for the victory"
"Thanks, you can look for me later i'll treat you with some wine"
"Hahaha! Thanks for the offer, I should let you guys pass now though cause it seems a line is forming behind you already, I don't want to offend the lord by offending this merchants so you can proceed now."
Avitus was at the forefront of the caravan along with nine other prisoners including Lucius. He noticed the guards were looking at him eavesdropping at them but instead of becoming angry the enemy just seem to sneer at him with content.
It didn't sit well with him but due to his current circumstance he can only hide his anger. When they were finally inside the city he was surprised by what he saw, its not just him who was surprised even his fellow Romans was surprised with him. Within the city they saw a unique mix of the Parthian culture slowly rising in the currently dominant Greek surroundings.
A rare blend of the greek and eastern cultures gives a vibe of freshness to the Romans. As far as they had known outside of Rome other cultures are inferior and barbaric except some other civilizations like the greeks.
This sight overturned some of the mens beliefs. While some were still adamant over their beliefs that Rome is still the greatest civilization.
Hatra was the best protected and most useful case of a Parthian city. Its arrangement was round, and was surrounded by internal and external dividers about 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) in diameter and upheld by in excess of 160 towers.
A temenos encompassed the important sacrosanct structures in the downtown area's. The sanctuaries secured some 1.2 hectares and were commanded by the Great Temple, a huge structure with vaults and segments that once rose to 30 meters.
The city was popular for its combination of Greek, Mesopotamian, Canaanite, Aramean and Arabian pantheons, referred to in Aramaic as Beiṯ Ĕlāhā ("House of God"). The city had sanctuaries to Nergal (Assyrian-Babylonian and Akkadian), Hermes (Greek), Atargatis (Syro-Aramaean), Allat, Shamiyyah (Arabian), and Shamash (the Mesopotamian sun god), Other divinities referenced in the Hatran Aramaic engravings were the Aramaean Ba'al Shamayn, and the female god known as Ashurbel, which was maybe the digestion of the two gods the Assyrian god Ashur and the Babylonian Bel—in spite of their being exclusively manly.
This different religions in one place somehow relates with Rome. Whereas the Parthians adopted the different religions, Rome also did this albeit in a much more aggressive manner in which.
While Avitus was taking in the new scenery, he saw the man who led to their defeat, General Surena.
Surena was an extremely distinguished man. In wealth, birth, and in the honor paid to him, he ranked next after the king; in courage and ability he was the foremost Parthian of his time; and in stature and personal beauty he had no equal.
Just a few feet in front of him he saw the man who led to his current situation. There was anger and hatred in his eyes but also without him noticing it also exhibit bot fear and respect at the time.
Surena came to one of the soldiers guarding them and ordered that all of the prisoner must be delivered to the capital for the victory procession. He also pointed out that the prisoners must stay outside of the city and make a makeshift camp that oversees the prisoners.
He ordered this to prevent the prisoners from jeopardizing the peace of the city. The makeshift prison was made immediately after a few hours. The prisoners still stayed at their cages but some makeshift roofs were put above the cages. While the perimeter was surrounded by wooden wall to prevent any chances of escape.
Due to the close proximity of the prison the the walls the decided that the temporary prison camp be connected to the wall to increase the security of the place.
The prisoners were given food in turns, this also includes the fact that whenever the prisoners need to do their business outside of the cells they must b guarded by two soldiers and if the prionser wont accept then he better relieve himself within the cell.
Life was horrible for the prisoners currently. Being served with almost unpalatable food made their life even worse. With the poor facilities and treatments in the cells, prisoners died left and right due to either succumbing to their previous battle injuries or disease.
The contrast between the world inside Hatra and outside of it greatly shows the difference. Avitus was praying to the gods, hoping that they receive his prayer that they help him and his fellow soldiers be delivered away from the current torments they are experiencing.