PHO'CION (Gr. Pito/don), an Athenian gen, of noble and unselfish character, was b. about the end of the 5th c. Clinton, in his Fasti liellenici, gives the date 402 n.c. He was of humble origin, but appears to have enjoyed a superior education, and to have studied under Plato, Xeuocrates, and perhaps Diogenes also, from the last of whom he may have acquired his habit of indulging in caustic sarcasm. Phocion first attracted notice in the great sea-fight at Naxos (376), where be commanded a division of the Athe nian fleet, and materially helped to secure the victory for his countrymen. Strange to say, however, we scarcely hear of him again for more than 20 years; but in 351, along with Evagoras, he undertook the conquest of Cyprus for the Persian monarch, Arta xerxes III. (Ochus), and was completely successful. About the same time, but the exact date is uncertain, lie led an Athenian expedition into the island of Eulnea, where Philip of Macedon was intriguing, and inflicted a severe defeat on that powerful sovereign at Tamyan. In 341 he was again successful in crushing the Macedonian party in Eubma, and in restoring the ascendency of Athens. Two years before this he had achieved a similar result at Megara; and in 340, when sent to the aid of the Byzantines against Philip, he acted with so much prudence and tact, and inspired the citizens with so much zeal and courage, that Philip was forced to abandon the siege, and even to evacuate the Chersonesus, while Phocion captured several of his ships and coast-garrisons, besides making havoc of a good deal of the Macedonian territory. Nevertheless, with just appreciation of the real weakness of Greece proper, and of the strength or Macedon, he advocated, even in the midst of his triumphs, pacific views and the establishment of better relations with the enemy. His advice was not taken; but the fatal battle of Clne
roma, only two years afterward, in which the independence of the Greek republics was lost forever, proved its soundness. The murder of Philip, in 336, occasioned the great est exultation, and Demosthenes even proposed a public sacrifice of thanksgiving and the establishment of religious honors to the memory of the assassin, but Phocion resisted and prevented so monstrous a proposal. Henceforth his career is chiefly political. We see him struggling at Athens to repress what appeared to him the reckless desire for war on the part of the fanatical patriots, on account of which he was regarded as a traitor, but his personal honor is above suspicion. After the death of Alexander in 323, the aged Phoeion endeavored, but in vain, to hinder the Athenians from going to war. with Anti pater: The battle of Cranon, next year, which prostrated his countrymen, again evinced the wisdom of his counsels; but though very unhandsomely treated by the Athenians, be used all his influence with the conqueror (who like Alexander had a profound respect • for him) to mitigate their hardships. After the death of Antipater, Phocion w9s involved in the intrigues of Cassander, the rival of Polysperchon, and was forced to flee to Phocis, where Polysperchon delivered him up to the Athenians. He was condemned by "a mixed mob of disfranchised citizens, foreigners, and slaves" to drink hemlock. his body, flung unburied over the borders of the state, was carried by some of his friends to Liensis and burned.there. The Athenians soon began to raise monuments to his memory. His life has been written by Plutarch and Cornelius Nepos.