Phocion

But Deinarchus fell sick, and the party therefore tarried many days in Elateia, during which time the people of Athens, in accordance with a decree brought in by Archestratus and supported by Hagnonides, sent an embassy to denounce Phocion. Both the parties fell in with Polysperchon at the same time, as he was marching with the king near Pharygae, a village of Phocis lying at the foot of Mount Acrurium, which is now called Galata.

Here, then, Polysperchon, after setting up the golden canopy and seating beneath it the king and his friends, as soon as Deinarchus came forward, ordered him to be seized, tortured, and put to death,[*](In order to maintain himself in power, Polysperchon was forced to treat Antipater’s friends as his own enemies.) and then gave audience to the Athenians. But they raised a tumultuous shouting with their denunciations of one another in the council, and at last Hagnonides came forward and said: Throw us all into one cage and send us back to Athens to render an account.

At this, the king burst out laughing; but the Macedonians and foreigners who were gathered about the council, having nothing else to do, were eager to listen, and nodded to the ambassadors to make their denunciation there. But there was no fairness in the conduct of the case, since, when Phocion tried to speak, he was frequently interrupted by Polysperchon, and at last, smiting the ground with his staff, he retired and held his peace.

Moreover, when Hegemon[*]() said that Polysperchon could bear witness to his good will towards the people, and Polysperchon replied in wrath, Cease telling lies against me in the presence of the king, the king sprang to his feet and would have smitten Hegemon with a spear.One of Phocion’s party, and, like him, under accusation of treachery, i.e. of favouring Cassander rather than Polysperchon. But Polysperchon quickly threw his arms about the king, and thus the council was dissolved.

A guard was now placed about Phocion and his associates, and at sight of this all of his friends who were standing at some remove covered up their faces and sought safety in flight. Phocion and his party, however, were taken back to Athens by Cleitus, ostensibly to be tried, but really under sentence of death.