During a siege, this city was reportedly defended by a trained war lion, felled in one blow by Hashim at Bahrseer.
During a siege, this city was reportedly defended by a trained war lion, felled in one blow by Hashim at Bahrseer. Shortly after being captured, this city was given back by the first Peace of Nisibis. Ammianus Marcellinus claims that its "founder" was Vardanes. In a battle named for this city, the usurper Procopius failed to execute a pincer attack, forcing his cousin to retreat and be killed by a flying spear. The last remaining monument of this city, its White Palace, contains the largest vault in the world, a massive brick arch. This city was known by Arabs as "al- Mada'in" or "the cities" due to its many suburbs, one of which was sarcastically dubbed "better than Antioch," while another was home to the patriarch of the Nestorian church. Before dying inSamarra, Julian the Apostate tried to conquer this city. This city, located across from Seleucia on the Tigris, was the capital of Shapur II and his Sassanid Empire. For 10 points, name this ancient city that, along with Susa, was also a capital of Parthia.
During a siege, this city was reportedly defended by a trained war lion, felled in one blow by Hashim at Bahrseer.
Ctesiphon [accept  Seleucia-Ctesiphon but prompt if answer does not give "Ctesiphon", or al- Mad a'in   or Mahoze before mentioned]