1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Phyle
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PHYLE, a mountain fortress, on a pass leading from Athens to Boeotia and Thebes, and commanding a fine view of the Attic plain. It is situated on the south-west end of Mt Parnes. It is chiefly famous for its occupation by Thrasybulus at the head of the Athenian exiles during the rule of the Thirty Tyrants in 404 B.C. After defending himself from attack, with the help of a snowstorm, he succeeded by a venturesome night march in seizing Munychia. Close to Phyle is the cliff called Harma, over which the Pythian lightnings were watched for from Athens.