Likely image of Pharnaces as Mayor of the Palace, appearing in front of Darius and performing Proskynesis, in the Central relief of the Apadana, Persepolis.[1]

Pharnaces Ι (Greek: Φαρνάκης; Elamite: Parnaka; c. 565–497 BCE) was a son of Arsames. He was a younger brother of Hystaspes, and therefore an uncle of Achaemenid Emperor Darius I, son of Hystaspes. He was the founder of the Pharnacid dynasty that ruled over Hellespontine Phrygia.[2][3]

Mayor of the Palace

Pharnaces was son of Arsames, and brother of Hystaspes.

According to the fortification tablets found at Persepolis, Pharnaces was the chief economic official to Darius I between 506 and 497 BCE.[2][4] He was a Mayor of the Palace, his statutory attribute being a short stick, probably made of a precious metal. He likely appears on some of the reliefs in Persepolis.[3]

Hellespontine Phrygia

Pharnaces became involved at some point with Hellespontine Phrygia in Asia Minor (modern northwest Turkey), since Aristotle of Stagira mentions that Pharnaces introduced mules in the region.[5][6]

Pharnaces had a son named Artabazus, who was appointed as satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia by Xerxes I circa 477 BCE. Artabazus and his heirs, known as the "Pharnacid dynasty" after Pharnaces, would rule the region into the 4th century BCE and until its take-over by Alexander the Great.[2][7][4]

References

  1. ↑ Persepolis, Apadana, North Stairs, Central Relief - Livius.
  2. 1 2 3 Briant, Pierre (2002). From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire. Eisenbrauns. p. 339. ISBN 9781575061207.
  3. 1 2 Pharnaces (1) - Livius.
  4. 1 2 Stronk, Jan (2016). Semiramis' Legacy: The History of Persia According to Diodorus of Sicily. Edinburgh University Press. p. 206. ISBN 9781474414272.
  5. ↑ Delphi Complete Works of Aristotle (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. 2013. p. 1408. ISBN 9781909496286.
  6. ↑ Kitto, John (1852). The Popular Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature: Condensed from the Larger Work. Gould and Lincoln. p. 108.
  7. ↑ "The dynasty seems to have been founded by Pharnaces, the son of Arsames, Darius' uncle" in Achaemenid History. Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten. 1988. p. 178. ISBN 9789062584031.
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