Phocion
2 of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Phocion. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
an Athenian general ana statesman; born about 400 b. c. He was a disciple of Plato and Xenocrates, served under Chabrias at the naval battle of Naxos, and became subsequently head of the peace party at Athens, steadily opposing Demosthenes and all bold patriots who were ready to fight for independence of their country against the Macedonian invaders. He was a brave and successful soldier; his private character was above suspicion, which saved him from the infamy which his political course deserved. He was twice sent on embassies to Alexander the Great, and acquired his friendship. When Athens was occupied by Polysperchon, Phocion International Film Service THE ARRIVAL OF GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING IN FRANCE, JUNE 12, 1917 Enc. Vol. 7-p. 228 Ewing Galloway GATHERING THE PEACH CROP FROM AN ORCHARD IN NEW JERSEY Sir Douglas Mawson Photo by Ewing Galloway A VIEW OF SCRANTON, PA., SHOWING THE SKYSCRAPERS OF THE NEW SKY LINE Publishers' Photo Service AN INDIAN GIRL GATHERING PAPAYAS IN THE INTERIOR OF PERU Publishers' Photo Service AN OLD SWINGING BRIDGE OVER THE HUARI RIVER IN PERU, SOUTH AMERICA E. M. Newman A COUNTRY HOUSE IN THE PHILIPPINES, TYPICAL OF THE NATIVE FILIPINOS Ewing Galloway SOUTH BROAD STREET, PHILADELPHIA, LOOKING NORTH TOWARD THE CITY HALL fell one of the first victims to the enemies part of the Roman of his country whom he had aided. 83 province of Syria 62 B. C., and was de- He was tried and sentenced to death, 317 b. c.
1000 Classical Characters (1900)
An Athenian celebrated for his public and private virtue. He was distinguished for his zeal for the general good, and for his military abilities. The fickleness of the Athenians, however, caused them to lose sight of his virtues, and, being accused of treason, he was condemned to drink poison, which he took with the greatest heroism. His death occurred about 318 years before the Christian era.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
The bare facts of Phocion's life have not moved: Plutarch's Life remains almost the only substantial source, and his death by hemlock is still dated to 318 B.C., the year Collier's gave as 317 and the 1900 compilation gave as "about 318." What has shifted is the verdict. Collier's 1921 account calls him the opponent of "all bold patriots" and says only his spotless private character "saved him from the infamy which his political course deserved"; historians since have tended to read him instead as a realist who judged that Athens could not beat Macedon in the field, and who was destroyed by the restored democracy of 318 for being right. Readers today are also likelier to meet him through modern translations of Plutarch than through the moralising compendia of the sort reprinted here.
Written for this edition, 2026.