PHOCIS was bounded S. by the Corinthian Gulf, W. by Doris and the Locri Ozolte, N. by the Locri Epicnemidii and Opuntii, and E. by B000tia. Strabo says (ix. p. 416) that Phocis was divided into two parts by the range of Parnassos, which extends in a south-easterly direction through Phocis till it joins Mount Helicon on the borders of Ikeotia. Parnasoos and the mountains which separate Phocis from Locris form the upper valley of the river Cephissus, on the banks of which there is some fertile country, though in many parts the moun tain, approach very near both banks of the river. The southern part of Phocis is almost entirely covered with the mountains which branch off to the south from the huge mass of Parnassus, though there are a few fertile plains between these mountains, of which the largest is the celebrated Crissman plain.
In the Persian invasion Xerxea ravaged the country at the insti gation of the Thessaliana. The Phocians had no political importance till after the battle of Leuctm ; but shortly after that event the cele brated Phocian or Sacred war broke out, in which all the great states of Greece were more or less concerned. The real occasion of this war Was the animosity between Thebes and Phocis, which bad long pre vailed under a show of peace. The Thebans used their influence in the Amphictyonic council to induce the Amphietyons to sentence the Phocians to pay a heavy fine to the god for an alleged violation of the sacred land in the Crimean plain; and, on their refusing to pay this fine, the council passed a decree that if the fine were not paid the Phocians should forfeit their territory to the gods, which decree was in all probability intended to reduce the Phocians to the condition of the Helots in Laconica, subject to the jurisdiction of the temple of Delphi. In these alarming circumstances the Phocians were induced by Philomelus, who appears to have held some high office iu the Phocian state, end was a man of great talent and energy, to make the bold attempt at seizing the city and temple of Delphi. This attempt was successful; and the Phocians obtained in the treasures deposited in the temple ample means for carrying on the war. This war lasted
for ten years. Time Theisans, and almost all the northern states of Greece, were opposed to the Phocians; and though the Athenians and Spartans were willing, in consequence of their fear of time power of Thebes, to afford assistance to the Phocians, both were too weak at the time to render effectual aid. The Amphietyona called in the assist ance of Philip of Macedon, who took possession of Delphi, and put an end to the war B.C. 346.' The Phocian cities, with the exception of Also, were razed to the ground, and their inhabitants dispersed in villages riot containiog more than 50 inhabitauts. Their two votes in the Amphictyonic council were taken away and given to Philip.
(Pans., x. 3, sec. I ; Diod., xvi. 59 ; iEschin., 'Do Pals. p. 45.) litany of the towna however appear to have been rebuilt soon after wards.
The principal towns of Mock were DELPHI and Elates. Elatea was situated on a small hill above the plain watered by the Cephissus. It was taken and burnt by the army of Xerxes ; but was soon rebuilt, and became the most important town in Phocis. It oommanded the chief road which led from the north of Greece to Boiotia and Attica. Time ruins are at the modern Elephta.
On the sea-coast the first town we come to after leaving the Locri Ozolm is Cirrha, sitnatod at the head of the Criastean Gulf (Bay of Saloon) and at the mouth of the Pleistus. Cirrha was the port of Delphi. The next town to Cirrha on the coast was Antieyra, cele brated for its preparation of hellebore, which grew in the mountains above the town. Next to Anticyra was Medeon, destroyed with the other Phocian towns after the termination of the Sacred 'war and never restored; and after it the mall town of 41farathus, beyond which was the Pharygian promontory with a station for ships.
In the modern kin;dom of Greece the ancient name of the state has been restored in one of the nomes of Northern Greece, the nome of Phocis and Phthiotia, which had a population in 1853 of 80,693. (GREECE, Kingdom of.)