Phanes
6th century BC Greek mercenary and tactician
Phanes of Halicarnassus was a wise council man, a tactician, and a mercenary from Halicarnassus, serving the Egyptian pharaoh Amasis II. Most of what history recounts of Phanes is from the account of Herodotus in his grand historical text, the Histories.
Phanes is read about 7.5 times a day, in 6 languages.
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![The earliest inscribed coinage: electrum coin of Phanes from Ephesus, sometimes attributed to Phanes of Halicarnassus, 625-600 BC. Obverse: Stag grazing right, ΦΑΝΕΩΣ (retrograde). Reverse: Two incuse punches, each with raised intersecting lines.[1]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Triti%2C_Phanes%2C_625-600_BC%2C_Ionia_-_301224.jpg/500px-Triti%2C_Phanes%2C_625-600_BC%2C_Ionia_-_301224.jpg?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=parser&utm_content=thumbnail)
The earliest inscribed coinage: electrum coin of Phanes from Ephesus, sometimes attributed to Phanes of Halicarnassus, 625-600 BC. Obverse: Stag grazing right, ΦΑΝΕΩΣ (retrograde). Reverse: Two incuse punches, each with raised intersecting lines.[1]![Itinerary of Phanes of Halicarnassus, and the itinerary of Persian and Egyptian forces; Persian forces - black line, Egyptian Eunuchs - red line, Phanes of Halicarnassus's travel itinerary - blue line[4]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/MarchofCamybsesII.png/500px-MarchofCamybsesII.png?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=parser&utm_content=thumbnail)
Itinerary of Phanes of Halicarnassus, and the itinerary of Persian and Egyptian forces; Persian forces - black line, Egyptian Eunuchs - red line, Phanes of Halicarnassus's travel itinerary - blue line[4]About this person
According to Herodotus, Phanes of Halicarnassus was "a resourceful man and a brave fighter" serving Amasis II on matters of state, and was well connected within the Egyptian pharaoh's troops. Phanes of Halicarnassus was also very well respected within the military and royal community of Egypt.