# Pharnabazus — History of the Peloponnesian War character guide

> Pharnabazus in History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0002-book-i

## Snapshot

Persian satrap of the Hellespont whose gold and ships keep Sparta's fleet afloat while he plays his own long game against Athens.

## Who they are

Pharnabazus governs the rich northwestern provinces of the Persian empire, where Greek cities, Spartan generals, and Athenian envoys all compete for his favor and his treasury. He is a patient diplomat who understands that Persian interests are best served by letting Greeks exhaust each other, yet he genuinely admires Spartan discipline and honors his alliances. His decision to bankroll Sparta's naval war shifts the balance of the conflict and shows how the Peloponnesian War was never merely a Greek affair.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters/pharnabazus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters