It is uncertain whether we possess any further historical details of the siege.

The narrative of Ctesias may embody a certain number of the facts, as it certainly represented with truth the strange yet not incredible termination.

But on the other hand, we cannot feel sure, with regard to any statement made solely by that writer, that it has any other source than his imagination.

Hence the description of the last siege of Nineveh, as given by Diodorus on the authority of Ctesias, seems undeserving of a place in history, though the attention of the curious may properly be directed to it.
The empire of the Assyrians thus fell, not so much from any inherent weakness, or from the effect of gradual decay, as by an unfortunate combination of circumstances--the occurrence of a terrible inroad of northern barbarians just at the time when a warlike nation, long settled on the borders of Assyria, and within a short distance of her capital, was increasing, partly by natural and regular causes, partly by accidental and abnormal ones, in greatness and strength.

It will be proper, in treating of the history of Media, to trace out, as far as our materials allow, these various causes, and to examine the mode and extent of their operation.