PHOCION, f5'shi-Un (Lat., from Gk. 4'wsisv, Phok ) B.C. ) . An Athenian general. He was of humble origin, hut received a good edu cation and studied under Plato and Xenocrates. His first public service was performed under Chabrias at Naxos in B.C. 376. About 349 he was sent into Eubcea to quell a disturbance that had been fostered in Eretria by the partisans of Philip of Macedon. and won a victory at Tampix. Some years later he led a body of Athenian hop lites to Megara, crushed Philip's faction there, and reestablished the long walls to Nisiea : and also again conducted a force to Eutwea, where he liberated Omits and Eretria from Macedonian in fluence. In 340 he was sent to the Propontis to net against Philip, who, besides suffering a number of minor reverses, found himself forced to abandon the siege of Byzantium and Perinthus. in polities, however. Phoeion was a supporter of Philip and an adversary of Demosthenes. though not from mercenary or traitorous motives. When. after the destruction of Thebes in 335, Alexander sent to Athens demanding the surrender of Demos thenes and the other leaders of the anti-Mace donian party, Phoeion advised compliance with the King's wishes. The proposal was rejected by
the people, and an embassy was sent to Alexander to deprecate his resentment. but not until a sec ond embassy had been sent, at the head of whivli was Phocion, was the King induced to remit his terms. After the death of Antipater l'hocion became implicated in the intrigues of Cassander. the rival of Polysperchon, and was forced to flee to Phoeis, but was surrendered to the Athenians and by them condemned to drink the hemlock. His body was carried out of Attica into the \le garid and there burnt. Shortly after his death there was a revulsion of feeling in his favor among the Athenians. They then celebrated his funeral obsequies at the public expense. and erected a statue in his honor. Consult Plutarch's Life of Phoeion.