Pantea Arteshbod

Pantea Arteshbod (fl. 539 BCE), was a Persian military commander during the reign of Cyrus The Great.

She played a tide-turning role in the Battle of Opis in 539 BCE and in maintaining law and order in Babylonia after the conquest of the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 547 B.C.E. She also assisted her husband; General Aryasb (Arthesbod) in the formation of the 10,000 'Persian Immortals', one of the 'elites' of Persian war dually responsible for both imperial Guard and standing army during the empire’s expansion.

She was not the only woman to hold high ranking positions in the Persian army. Lieutenant Commander Artunis (c. 500–540 BC), who also served in the army of Cyrus, and Grand Admiral Artemisia I of Caira are often put forward as representatives of ancient female military leaders among discussions of women's contributions to historical battlefields.