PHOCION, Athenian statesman and general, was born about 402 B.C., the son of a small manufacturer. He became a pupil of Plato and in later life was a close friend of Xenocrates. Under Chabrias he distinguished himself in the great sea-fight of Naxos (376), and subsequently won the confidence of the allies by his justice and integrity. In 351-349 he entered the Persian service and helped to subdue a rebellion in Cyprus. Henceforward he always held a prominent position in Athens, and although he never canvassed he was elected general forty-five times in all. In politics he is known chiefly as the consistent opponent of the anti Macedonian party. He countered the eloquence of Demosthenes and his supporters by the plain facts of Athens' situation. He helped to defend Aeschines in 343, and secured lenient terms from Philip after the disaster of Chaeroneia (338). He also ren dered good service in the field: in 348 he saved the force operating against the philo-Macedonian tyrants in Euboea by the brilliant victory of Tamynae. Under the Macedonian predominance his
reputation increased. Though by no means inclined to truckle to the Macedonians, as is shown by his protection of the refugee Harpalus and his spirited campaign in defence of Attica in 322, he won the confidence of the conquerors, and in the restricted democracy which Antipater enforced he became the virtual ruler of Athens. On the restoration of the democracy in 318, Phocion was deposed. He fled to Polyperchon, but was sent back to be tried at Athens. The assembly shouted Phocion down and con demned him to death unheard. Not long after, the Athenians decreed a public burial and a statue in his honour.
See Plutarch, Life of Phocion; Holm. Gk. Hist. vol. iii. (Eng. trans., London, 1896).