Chapter Philotas to Phunky of P by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Phlegrian Size, gigantic. Phlegra or the Phlegræan plain,in Macedon, is where the giants attacked the gods, and were defeated by Herculês. Drayton makes the diphthong æ a short i—

Whose only love surprised those of the Phlegrian size,
The Titanois, that once against high heaven durst rise.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, vi. (1612).

Phobbs. Captain and Mrs. Phobbs, with Mrs. major Phobbs a widow, sister-in-law to the captain, in Lend Me Five Shillings, by J. M. Morton.

Phocion, husband of Euphrasia “the Grecian daughter.”—Murphy: The Grecian Daughter (1772).

Phocyas, gen eral of the Syrian army in the siege of Damascus. Phocyas was in love with Eudocia, daughter of Eumenês the governor, but when he asked the governor’s consent, Eumenês sternly refused to give it. After gaining several battles, Phocyas fell into the hands of the Arabs, and consented to join their army to revenge himself on Eumenês. The Arabs triumphed, and Eudocia was taken captive, but she refused to wed a traitor. Ultimately, Phocyas died, and Eudocia entered a convent.—Hughes: Siege of Damascus (1720).

Phœbus, the sun-god. Phœbe , the moon-goddess.—Greek Mythology.

Phœbus’s Son. Phaeton obtained permission of his father to drive the sun-car for one day, but, unable to guide the horses, they left their usual track, the car was overturned, and both heaven and earth were threatened with destruction. Jupiter struck Phaeton with his thunderbolt, and he fell headlong into the Po.

…like Phœbus’ fayrest child,
That did presume his father’s fiery wayne,
And flaming mouths of steeds unwonted wilde,
Thro’ highest heaven with weaker hand to rayne;…
He leaves the welkin way most beaten playne,
And, wrapt with whirling wheels, inflames the skyen
With fire not made to burne, but fayrely for to shyne.
   —Spenser: Faërie Queene, i. 4, 10 (1590).

Phœbus. Gaston de Foix was so called, from his great beauty (1488–1512).

Phœbus (Captain), the betrothed of Fleur de Marie. He also entertains a base love for Esmeralda, the beautiful gipsy girl.—Victor Hugo: Notre Dame de Paris (1831).

Phœnix (The) is said to live 500 (or 1000) years, when it makes a nest of spices, burns itself to ashes, and comes forth with renewed life for another similar period. There never was but one phœnix.

The bird of Arabye…Can never dye,
And yet there is none. But only one,
A phenix…Plinni showeth al In his Story Natural,
What he doth finde Of the phenix kinde.
   —Skelton: Philip Sparow (time, Henry VIII.).

Phœnix Theatre (The), now called Drury Lane.

Phœnix Tree, the rasin, an Arabian tree. Floro says, “There never was but one, and upon it the phœnix sits.”—Dictionary (1598).

Pliny thinks the tree on which the phœnix was supposed to perch is the date tree (called in Greek phoinix), adding that “the bird died with the tree, and revived of itself as the tree revived.”—Nat. Hist., xiii. 4.

Now I will believe
That there are unicorns; that in Arabia
There is one tree, the phœnix’ throne; one phœnix
At this hour reigning there.
   —Shakespeare: The Tempest, act iii. sc. 3 (1609).

Phorcus, “the old man of the sea.” He had three daughters, with only one eye and one tooth between’em.—Greek Mythology.

This is not “the old man of the sea” mentioned in the Arabian Nights (“Sinbad bad the sailor”).