PAMPHILA, of Epidaurus, the daughter of Soteridas.
Suidas reckons up several of her writings, as well in prose as verse; in all which she attained to so great a repute, that her statue is said to have been erected by Cephisodorus.
PAMPHILA,
An Egyptian lady, who composed a miscellaneous history divided into thirty-three books, as also many other treatises.
PANTHEA, wife of Abradates, king of Susa, in the Persian empire,
Was taken prisoner by Cyrus; and the description which Xenophon gives of her beauty and distress deserves attention. 'Cyrus, says he, commanded Araspes to keep Panthea and the finest tent for him: she was seated on the ground, in the tent, with all her female attendants around her, and clothed in the same kind of habit as they were. All her waiting women rose up with her; but she excelled them all, in stature, in strength, in grace and beauty. Then her tears fell, and when they told her she was intended for Cyrus, she tore her upper raiment, and began to bewail herself: and know, Cyrus, says Araspes, that myself and all who saw her, were of opinion, that there never was known or born of mortals so beautiful a woman in all Asia.' He was very urgent with Cyrus to go and see her, which he refused to do, fearing her charms would have so strong an influence over him, as to retard the progress of his glory.
