Philo. The person to whom Lucian addresses The Way to write History is unknown.
Philocrates. Prominent Athenian, probably in the pay of Philip, into whose hands he constantly played.
Philoctētes. Armour-bearer of Heracles, inherited his bow. Left at Lemnos on the way to Troy, because a wound from a snake-bite rendered him offensive by its stench. Later, an oracle declaring the bow necessary for the capture of Troy, Odysseus went and induced him to come.
Philosophy. Lucian is fond of ridiculing the different schools of philosophy, some for their paradoxical choice of ends, some for their hypocrisy in practically disregarding their own precepts. The regulation philosophic garb and appearance also comes in for satire; it consisted of threadbare cloak, wallet, and staff, with long beard. A brief account of the chief schools will be found under Academy, Cynics, Cyrenaics, Peripatetics, Stoics, Epicureans, Sceptics, Plato, Pythagoras.
Philoxenus. A poet, who, for his severe criticism of a poem of Dionysius I, was imprisoned in the Syracusan quarries. The tyrant, having pardoned him and invited him to dinner, recited another poem he had composed. Asked his opinion of it, Philoxenus made no direct reply, but said, 'Take me back to the quarries.'
Phineus. King of Bithynia, blinded by Zeus for unjustly blinding his own children; and See Harpies.
Phlegethon. 'Burning,' one of the infernal rivers.
Phocion. Athenian statesman and general, died 318 B.C.; distinguished for virtue, moderation, and poverty.
Phoebus. See Apollo.
Phoenix (1). Son of Amyntor king of Argos. Blinded by his father, fled to Peleus, was cured by Chiron of his blindness, and became tutor to Achilles.