A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

11. Surnamed PHAMAEAS or PHAMEAS (Φαμαίας, Appian; Φαμέας, Zonar.), commander of the Carthaginian cavalry in the third Punic war. Being young, active, and daring, and finding himself at the head of an indefatigable and hardy body of troops, he continually harassed the Roman generals, prevented their soldiers from leaving the camp for provisions or forage, and frequently attacked their detachments with success, except, it is said, when they were commanded by Scipio. By these means he became an object of terror to the Romans, and contributed greatly to the success of the Carthaginian army under Hasdrubal, especially on occasion of the march of Manilius upon Nepheris. But in the course of this irregular warfare having accidentally fallen in with Scipio (at that time one of the tribunes in the Roman army), he was led by that officer into a conference, in which Scipio induced him to abandon the cause of Carthage as hopeless, and desert to the Romans. This resolution he put in execution on occasion of the second expedition of Manilius against Nepheris (B. C. 148), when he went over to the enemy, carrying with him the greater part of the troops under his command. He was sent by Manilius with Scipio to Rome, where the senate rewarded him

for his treachery with a purple robe and other ornaments of distinction, as well as with a sum of money. After this he returned to Africa, but we do not learn that he was able to render any important services to the Romans in their subsequent operations. (Appian, App. Pun. 97, 100, 104, 107, 109; Zonar. 9.27; Eutrop. 4.10.)

[E.H.B]