Onaphernes

Onaphernes (Wanat–hvarnah, Wanafarna    Holofernes )  — leader of the cadusii, ally of Cyrus the Great.

History
According John Clark Ridpath, at  the  time  of  the  accession  of  Astyages  cadusii were  ruled  by  a king  named  Onaphernes,  who, believing  his  country  to  be  in  danger,  took wisdom  into  his  counsel,  and  opened  negotiations with  the  Median  monarch  relative  to  annexation. This  odd  piece  of  statecraft  was successful;  for  Astyages  was an  easy-going king,  who  preferred  peace  to  war,  and was very  willing  to  make  terms  with  the  cadusian ruler. So without  bloodshed  the  dominions  of that  barbaric  but  politic prince  were  transferred to  Media,  himself  remaining  as  viceroy. Stephen Dando-Collins say that Astyages sent Cyrus as a royal envoy on a special mission. Astyages had received a message from Onaphernes, ruler of the Cadusii tribe, which inhabited the Elburz Mountains on the southwest coast of the Caspian Sea. The Cadusians had been a troublesome thorn in Media’s side for years, raiding Median territory on foot then melting back into the mountains. Unbeknownst to his people, Onaphernes was proposing either a truce or an alliance with Media, and he had asked Astyages to send a trustworthy emissary for secret discussions. Astyages sent Cyrus, giving him forty days to complete his mission.

Among the Cadusii, enemies of the Medes, there was a man with aspirations to become a king named Onaphernes. The cadusii were then hostile to him. He was a traitor to his people and betraying his people, he acted in the interests of the king of the Media, who demanded a messenger from Astyages. Cyrus, appointed to carry out this task, remembered the overthrow of Sardanapalus, the last king of the Assyrians, by the Arbaces. On the way to the cadusii, Cyrus met a man beaten with a whip, who was carrying a basket of fertilizers. The man's name was Oibares, “the one who brings good news,” and he interpreted this meeting as a good omen and, in turn, persuaded Cyrus did not to go to the cadusii and instilled in him self-confidence. Since Cyrus was operose and courageous, he decided with the help of God to persuade the persians to fall away and try to remove Astyages from power, believing the Babylonian, who perfectly knows the will of the gods.

Hypotheses
Ferdinand Justi identified Onaphernes with the persian commander Otanes, who was one of the seven conspirators involved in the assassination of Gaumata. According to another version, Onaphernes is the name of the title, and its real name is "Hutana-Otanes".