Galerius attacking Narseh, detail from the Arch of Galerius,

Galerius attacking Narseh, detail from the Arch of Galerius,

Detail of Galerius attacking Narseh, Arch of Galerius, dedicated 303, marble, Thessaloniki, Greece.

The Arch of Galerius was built between 298 and 299 and dedicated in 303 to celebrate his victory at the Battle of Satala and the capture of Ctesiphon. In this detail, Galerius (at left) is shown attacking Narseh (or Narses, at right). Narseh was the seventh Sasanian King of Kings of Iran and ruled from 293 to 303. Galerius, Caesar under Diocletian, invaded Mesopotamia, which Narseh had previously occupied in an attempt to cut off Galerius’s advance. After two battles with no clear winner, Narseh defeated Galerius completely at Callinicum. However, Galerius returned in 297 and invaded Armenia with 25,000 men. In this instance, Galerius was victorious. Eventually, a peace treaty was agreed upon. The scene on the triumphal arch in Thessaloniki takes some artistic license, Galerius and Narseh never met in battle.

https://www.thebyzantinelegacy.com/galerius-arch