PHA′ON. A boatman, who received from Venus a box of ointment, with
which, when he anointed himself, he grew so beautiful that Sappho
became enamoured of him; but when the ointment had all been used Phaon
returned to his former condition, and Sappho, in despair, drowned
herself.
PHEASANT, see Itys.
PHILOCT′ETES was son of Pœas, and one of the companions of Jason on
his Argonautic expedition. He was present at the death of Hercules,
and received from him the poisoned arrows which had been dipped in the
blood of the Hydra. These arrows, an oracle declared, were necessary
to be used in the destruction of Troy, and Philoctetes was persuaded
by Ulysses to go and assist at the siege. He appears to have used the
weapons with great dexterity and with wonderful effect, for Paris was
amongst the heroes whom he killed.
PHILOME′LA was a daughter of Pandion, King of Athens, who was
transformed into a nightingale.
“Forth like a fury Philomela flew,
And at his face the head of Itys threw.”