Editing Phoenix (son of Amyntor) (section)

==Sources==
===The ''Iliad''===
[[File:Akhilleus embassy Staatliche Antikensammlungen 8770- cropped white balanced glare reduced.png|thumb|250px|Embassy to Achilles. On the left, Phoenix standing, [[Odysseus]] seated facing [[Achilles]] seated, and [[Patroclus]] standing on the right. A [[red-figure]] [[hydria]], by the [[Kleophrades Painter]] (c. 480 BC) [[Staatliche Antikensammlungen]] 8770.<ref>Boardman, Griffin, and Murray, [https://books.google.com/books?id=uusmzge9gvsC&pg=PA47 p. 47]; Powell, [https://books.google.com/books?id=aYNuAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA220 p. 220]; Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/03DA0793-E680-4AC0-845F-7491EDC95B5D 352474]; ''[[Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae|LIMC]]'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-73f89469060d5-9 6001]; AVI Web [https://www.avi.unibas.ch/DB/searchform.html?ID=5580 5361].</ref>]]

Phoenix plays an important role in Book 9 of the ''[[Iliad]]'' of [[Homer]]. [[Achilles]], the Greeks' greatest warrior, has withdrawn from the war because of his great anger at his ill treatment by the Greek commander [[Agamemnon]]. Phoenix, who had been in charge of Achilles's upbringing, now an old man, has accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War. Phoenix is sent by Agamemnon to Achilles's tent, as part of an embassy with [[Ajax the Great|Ajax]] and [[Odysseus]], to persuade Achilles to return to the battle.<ref>Hard, pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA463 463]&ndash;[https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA46 464]; Gantz, p. 613; [[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.162-9.204 9.165&ndash;169].</ref> Odysseus speaks first, presenting Agamemnon's offer of reconciliation,<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.205-9.243 9.225&ndash;306].</ref> an appeal which Achilles rejects utterly, saying that he will leave with his ships the next morning.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.286-9.327 9.307&ndash;429].</ref> Next Phoenix&mdash;who as his tutor, as he reminds Achilles, has taught him "to be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds"&mdash;begins himself a long speech covering 172 lines.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.417-9.452 9.434&ndash;605]. For a detailed discussion of Phoenix's speech, see Rosner, pp. 314&ndash;327. Several scholars have questioned the authenticity of this section of the ''Iliad'' see Rosner, p. 314; Scodel, p. 129 with n. 4.</ref> Phoenix, "bursting into tears",<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.417-9.452 9.432&ndash;433].</ref> pleads passionately with Achilles to put down his anger and return to the war. Phoenix's speech presents an "exposition of heroic, traditional ethics".<ref>Scodel, p. 129.</ref>

Phoenix begins his appeal, in personal terms, by reminding Achilles how he came to be a second father to Achilles.<ref>Hard, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA464 464]; [[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.417-9.452 9.434&ndash;495]. For a detailed discussion of the autobiographical part of Phoenix's speech see Rosner, pp. 315&ndash;318; Scodel, pp. 128&ndash;136. Rosner, p. 315, describes the theme of this section of the speech as one of "paternal love and duty". Scodel, p. 128 n. 3, notes that the scholarly consensus sees this part of Phoenix's speech "as serving to stress the emotional ties between Phoenix and Achilles".</ref> Phoenix's father was Amyntor, the son of Ormenus, and a king in [[Achaea Phthiotis|Hellas]].<ref>For the "hopeless confusion" in Homer's statements concerning the location of Amyntor's kingdom see Leaf's note to ''Iliad'' [https://archive.org/details/cu31924011101643/page/n443 9.447, p. 403].</ref> When Amyntor forsook his wife, Phoenix's mother, for a concubine, at the urging of his jealous mother, Phoenix had sex with Amyntor's concubine. To punish this crime Amyntor called upon the [[Erinyes]] to curse Phoenix with childlessness. Outraged Phoenix intended to kill Amyntor, but was finally dissuaded. Instead he decided to leave his father's kingdom. For nine days some of his friends and family kept watch over him to prevent his leaving, but finally on the tenth day he managed to escape, and fleeing through Hellas, Phoenix came to [[Phthia]], where king [[Peleus]], the father of Achilles, took in Phoenix, and treated him like a son. Peleus made Phoenix a king of the [[Dolopia]]ns. And Phoenix was given charge of the young Achilles, whom Phoenix reared as a son.<ref>Compare with [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'' 257.</ref> Having reminded Achilles of all this, Phoenix asks Achilles to "master thy proud spirit; it beseemeth thee not to have a pitiless heart. Nay, even the very gods can bend".<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.492-9.537 9.496&ndash;497].</ref>

Phoenix next relates two stories meant to persuade Achilles to relent. The first story concerns the ''Litai'' ("Prayers"), daughters of [[Zeus]], who follow along after ''Ate'' ("Sin").<ref>Rosner, pp. 318&ndash;322; [[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.492-9.537 9.502&ndash;514].</ref>  This story is meant to show Achilles the dangers inherent in refusing prayers of supplication. After telling the story, Phoenix again asks Achilles to "cast aside thine anger" and heed the supplication of his comrads in arms and return to the battle.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.492-9.537 9.517].</ref> Phoenix reminds Achilles that heroes of old, in their wrath, might be won over by gifts and pleadings.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.492-9.537 9.524&ndash;526].</ref> He then recounts the story of the hero [[Meleager]], with its many parallels to Achilles's situation.<ref>Rosner, pp. 322&ndash;324; Swain, pp. 271&ndash;276; [[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.492-9.537 9.529&ndash;599].</ref> Like Achilles, Meleager has withdrawn from battle in anger. Offering gifts, his friends and family beg Meleager to return to the battle, but he refuses them. But when his own household is threatened, finally heeding the pleas of his wife, he returns to the battle, but received no gifts and honors, for doing so. Finally Phoenix urges Achilles not to be like Meleager, but to accept the gifts and honors Agammenon has offered, before it is too late.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.581-9.619 9.600&ndash;605].</ref>

But Achilles, responding to Phoenix, says he has no need of such gifts and has honor enough already. Further he admonishes Phoenix "not to confound my spirit by weeping and sorrowing," on Agamemnon's behalf. Nevertheless, Achilles invites Phoenix to stay the night "and at break of day we will take counsel whether to return to our own or to tarry here."<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.581-9.619 9.606&ndash;619].</ref>

Brief mentions of Phoenix also appear in Books 16, 17, 19, and 23.<ref>Gantz, p. 609.</ref> In Book 16 Phoenix leads a company of [[Myrmidons]] into battle.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:16.155-16.199 16.194].</ref> In Book 17, Athena takes Phoenix's form, as she urges on [[Menelaus]] in the heat of battle.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:17.543-17.566 17.555&ndash;561].</ref> In Book 19, Phoenix is among those comforting Achilles in his tent after the death of [[Patroclus]].<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]''  [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:19.309-19.348 19.309&ndash;313].</ref> In Book 23, Phoenix is an umpire in Patroclus's funeral games.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:23.351-23.387 23.359&ndash;361].</ref>

===Epic Cycle===
Besides the ''Iliad'' a few other mentions of Phoenix, from the epic tradition, are found in the [[Epic Cycle]], a collection of epic poems about the Trojan War.
According to [[scholia]] to ''Iliad'' 19, citing the Epic Cycle, prior to the Trojan War, Phoenix was sent with Odysseus and [[Nestor (mythology)|Nestor]] to seek out Achilles (who, as it turns out, is hiding on [[Skyros]] disguised as a girl) to recruit him for the war.<ref>Gantz, pp. 581&ndash;582; Scholia (D) ''Iliad'' 19.326 = ''[[Cypria]]'' fr. 19 West, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/greek_epic_fragments_trojan_cycle_cypria/2003/pb_LCL497.97.xml pp. 96&ndash;99]. Compare with [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'' 96; [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:3.13.8 3.13.8].</ref> According to the ''[[Cypria]]'', (one of the poems in the Epic Cycle) Achilles's son [[Neoptolemus]], originally named Pyrrhus, was given the name Neoptolemus ("young soldier") by Phoenix, because Achilles was a young man when he went to war.<ref>Gantz, p. 581; [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0525.tlg001.perseus-eng1:10.26.4 10.26.4] = ''[[Cypria]]'' fr. 19 West, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/greek_epic_fragments_trojan_cycle_cypria/2003/pb_LCL497.99.xml pp. 98&ndash;99].</ref> According to Proclus' summary of the ''[[Nostoi]]'', Phoenix, while traveling home from the Trojan War with Neoptolemus, died and was buried by Neoptolemus.<ref>Gantz, p. 688; Proclus, [https://chs.harvard.edu/primary-source/epic-cycle-sb/ Summary of the ''Nostoi''] = ''Returns'' argument 4 West [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/greek_epic_fragments_trojan_cycle_returns/2003/pb_LCL497.157.xml pp. 156, 157].</ref>

===Later sources===
The late sixth-century early fifth-century BC poet [[Pindar]] mentioned Phoenix, saying that he "held a throng of Dolopians, bold in the use of the sling and bringing aid to the missiles of the Danaans, tamers of horses."<ref>[[Strabo]] [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0099.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.5.5 9.5.5] = [[Pindar]] fr. 183 Race [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/pindar-fragments/1997/pb_LCL485.409.xml pp. 408, 409].</ref> Phoenix appeared as a character in [[tragedian]] [[Aeschylus]]' lost play ''[[Achilleis (trilogy)|Myrmidons]]'' ({{circa|490}}&ndash;480), which included an embassy scene, and presumably Phoenix's attempt to persuade Achilles to put aside his anger and return to the battlefield.<ref>Sommerstein, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/aeschylus-attributed_fragments/2009/pb_LCL505.135.xml p. 134]; Shapiro 1994, p. 19; Aeschylus fr. 132b Sommerstein, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/aeschylus-attributed_fragments/2009/pb_LCL505.139.xml pp. 138, 139].</ref>

The tragedian [[Sophocles]], in his play ''[[Philoctetes (Sophocles play)|Philoctetes]]'' (409 BC), tells us that after Achilles died at Troy, the Greeks received a prophecy which said that they would never take Troy unless Neoptolemus came to fight for them, so the Greeks sent Phoenix and Odysseus to [[Scyros]] to bring Neoptolemus back with them to Troy.<ref>Gantz, pp. 639&ndash;640; [[Sophocles]], ''[[Philoctetes (Sophocles play)|Philoctetes]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0011.tlg006.perseus-eng1:343-390 343&ndash;344], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0011.tlg006.perseus-eng1:557-590 557&ndash;567], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0011.tlg006.perseus-eng1:1314-1347 1329&ndash;1342]. So also [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg002.perseus-eng1:e.5.10 E.5.10&ndash;11]; [[Philostratus the Younger]], ''[[Imagines (work by Philostratus)|Imagines]]'' [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/philostratus_younger-imagines_1_achilles_scyros_pyrrhus_scyros/1931/pb_LCL256.293.xml 394 K 6] (no mention of Odysseus). Compare with [[Homer]], ''[[Odyssey]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.perseus-eng1:11.486-11.537 11.506&ndash;509], where Odysseus tells Achilles's shade in the underworld that he brought Neoptolemus to Troy.</ref> A [[red-figure]] [[volute-krater]] ({{circa|470 BC}}), had already depicted Neoptolemus, with Phoenix and Odysseus (all named), saying goodbye to his mother and grandfather [[Lycomedes]] on Skyros ([[Ferrara]] 44701).<ref>Gantz, p. 640; Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/63AA7C6F-F89B-4183-841C-D56B87602CA1 206070]; ''[[Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae|LIMC]]'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-7400f8c829b8c-b 6591].</ref>

Sophocles, and his fellow fifth-century tragedians [[Euripides]], and [[Ion of Chios]], among others, all wrote plays titled ''Phoenix'', now lost, which presumably told the story of Phoenix's conflict with his father.<ref>Gantz, p. 618. Sophocles' ''Phoenix'' may be the same as a play elsewhere called ''The Dolopians'', see Llyod-Jones, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/sophocles-fragments_known_plays/1996/pb_LCL483.69.xml pp. 68&ndash;69]. Phoenix also appeared as a character in Sophocles, ''The Lovers of Achilles'', see Llyod-Jones, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/sophocles-fragments_known_plays/1996/pb_LCL483.59.xml p. 58], and probably played an important role in Sophocles' ''Scyrians'', see Kotlinska-Toma, [https://books.google.com/books?id=I3YeBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA187 187]; Lloyd-Jones, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/sophocles-fragments_known_plays/1996/pb_LCL483.277.xml pp. 276&ndash;277]. For Hellenistic plays involving Phoenix, see Kotlinska-Toma, pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=I3YeBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA30 29&ndash;30], [https://books.google.com/books?id=I3YeBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA62 62].</ref> Nothing is known about the plays by Sophocles or Ion. However, from an allusion in [[Aristophanes]]' play ''[[The Acharnians]]'', Euripides seems to have represented Phoenix as blind.<ref>Gantz, p. 618; Collard and Cropp, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/euripides-dramatic_fragments/2008/pb_LCL506.405.xml p. 405]; ''Oxford Classical Dictionary'', s.v. Phoenix 1; [[Aristophanes]], ''[[Acharnians]]''
[http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0019.tlg001.perseus-eng1:407-453 421], where Aristophanes has Euripides refer to the costume of rags he gave his "Phoenix, the blind man". For a detailed discussion of Euripides' ''Phoenix'' see Collard and Cropp, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/euripides-dramatic_fragments/2008/pb_LCL506.405.xml pp. 405&ndash;421]. For further evidence for Phoenix's blindness in Euripides' play, see test. iva, Collard and Cropp, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/euripides-dramatic_fragments/2008/pb_LCL506.411.xml pp. 410, 411], frs. 815 (with note), 816.2, Collard and Cropp, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/euripides-dramatic_fragments/2008/pb_LCL506.419.xml pp. 418, 419].</ref> Moreover, evidence indicates that in Euripides' version of the story, Phoenix is falsely accused of rape by his father's concubine, and is blinded by Amyntor in punishment.<ref>Collard and Cropp, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/euripides-dramatic_fragments/2008/pb_LCL506.407.xml p. 406]; Gantz, p. 618; test. iic, Collard and Cropp, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/euripides-dramatic_fragments/2008/pb_LCL506.407.xml p. 406]; test. iva, Collard and Cropp, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/euripides-dramatic_fragments/2008/pb_LCL506.411.xml pp. 410, 411].</ref>

The [[Cyzicene epigrams]], the third book of the ''[[Palatine Anthology]]'', refers to the blinding of Phoenix by Amyntor, with Phoenix's mother, here named Alcimede, trying to restrain her husband.<ref>Gantz, p. 618; ''[[Palatine Anthology]]'' 3.3 (Paton, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/greek_anthology_3/2014/pb_LCL067.153.xml pp. 152&ndash;153])</ref> The poet [[Lycophron]] alludes to Phoenix, and his blinding by his father,<ref>[[Lycophron]], ''Alexandra'' [https://archive.org/stream/callimachuslycop00calluoft#page/528/mode/2up 417&ndash;423], with note h.</ref> and the poet [[Propertius]], mentions Chiron restoring Phoenix's sight.<ref>Frazer's note 3 to [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:3.13.8 3.13.8]; [[Propertius]], [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/propertius-elegies/1990/pb_LCL018.107.xml 2.1.60].</ref>

Lycophron also connects Phoenix with [[Eion]],<ref>[[Lycophron]], ''Alexandra'' [https://archive.org/stream/callimachuslycop00calluoft#page/528/mode/2up 417&ndash;423], with note f.</ref> where he was said to have been buried.<ref>Smith, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DP%3Aentry+group%3D27%3Aentry%3Dphoenix-bio-2 s.v. Phoenix 2]; [[Tzetzes]] on Lycophron [https://archive.org/stream/isaakioukaiiann00mlgoog#page/n657/mode/2up 417].</ref> Lycophron scholia name Phoenix's mother [[Cleobule]], and give the concubine's name as either [[Clytie]] or [[Phthia]].<ref>Gantz, p. 618; Frazer's note 3 to [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:3.13.8 3.13.8]; Smith [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DP%3Aentry+group%3D27%3Aentry%3Dphoenix-bio-2 s.v. Phoenix 2]; [[Tzetzes]] on [[Lycophron]] [https://archive.org/stream/isaakioukaiiann00mlgoog#page/n659/mode/2up 421].</ref> According to the A scholia to ''Iliad'' 9.448, Phoenix's mother was named Hippodameia, and the concubine Clytia.<ref>Gantz, p. 618; Frazer's note 3 to [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:3.13.8 3.13.8]; Smith, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DP%3Aentry+group%3D27%3Aentry%3Dphoenix-bio-2 s.v. Phoenix 2].</ref>

Both the poet [[Ovid]] and the mythographer [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]] say that Phoenix was one of the heroes to have participated in the hunt for the [[Calydonian Boar]].<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'' 173; [[Ovid]], ''[[Metamorphoses]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi006.perseus-eng1:8.260-8.364 8.307].</ref> And [[Virgil]] in his [[Aeneid]], has Phoenix and Odysseus, during the sack of Troy, in a temple, in [[Priam]]'s palace, standing guard over Troy's treasures.<ref>[[Virgil]], ''[[Aeneid]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0690.phi003.perseus-eng2:2.752-2.794 2.761–763].</ref>

The mythographer [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]],<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:3.13.8 3.13.8].</ref> probably drawing on Euripides' ''Phoenix'',<ref>Gantz, p. 618; Frazer's note 3 to Apollodorus, [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:3.13.8 3.13.8].</ref> says that Phoenix was falsely accused of seducing Amyntor's concubine Phthia. Amyntor blinded Phoenix, but Peleus brought Phoenix to the [[centaur]] [[Chiron]] who restored his sight. Peleus then made Phoenix king of the Dolopians. Apollodorus mentions the embassy of Odysseus, Phoenix, and Ajax, to Achilles.<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg002.perseus-eng1:e.4.3 E.4.3].</ref> Like Sophocles, Apollodorus says Phoenix and Odysseus were sent to bring Neoptolemus to Troy,<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg002.perseus-eng1:e.5.11 E.5.11].</ref> and agreeing with Proclus, says that after the war, traveling home with Neoptolemus, Phoenix died and Neoptolemus buried him.<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg002.perseus-eng1:e.6.12 E.6.12].</ref>

The Greek comic poet [[Eubulus (poet)|Eubulus]] wrote a play titled ''Phoenix'', so too did the Latin poet [[Ennius]].<ref>Collard and Cropp, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/euripides-dramatic_fragments/2008/pb_LCL506.407.xml p. 407] For Ennius' ''Phoenix'', see Goldberg and Manuwald, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/ennius-tragedies/2018/pb_LCL537.115.xml?result=2&rskey=fNnMR4 pp. 114&ndash;121].</ref> The 4th-century AD (?) Greek poet [[Quintus Smyrnaeus]], in his epic poem ''[[Posthomerica]]'', has Phoenix welcome Achilles's son [[Neoptolemus]] to Troy, and give a speech telling Neoptolemus about his father.<ref>[[Quintus Smyrnaeus]], ''[[Posthomerica]]'' [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/quintus_smyrnaeus-fall_troy/2018/pb_LCL019.395.xml 7.630&ndash;666].</ref> According to the c. 4th-century AD [[Dictys Cretensis]], Achilles, Ajax, and Phoenix were the commanders of the Greek's Trojan War fleet.<ref>[[Dictys Cretensis]], 1.16.</ref>