PARRHASIUS, a celebrated painter, the son of Euenor, was a native of Ephesus, and flourished in the year 397 before Christ, being the contemporary of Zeuxis, Eupompus, and Timanthes. He was the first who succeeded in giving the proper proportion to his figures, in throwing the expression of the passions into the countenance, and in causing the figure to appear to start from the canvass. Several who had preceded him were successful in finishing particular parts, but none could rival him in putting the whole together. Zeuxis was the only one of his contemporaries who at all approached him, and even he was at last obliged to acknowledge his inferiority. (See ZEUXIS.) One of his most curious paintings was a representation of the Demos of Athens, in which he had contrived to exhibit all the various passions with which that celebrated people were affected. His painting of the Hoplites, or the armed man running, had the effect of a person perspiring from excessive exertion; and another who was taking off his arms seemed to be panting for breath. Parrhasius was, like Zeuxis, distinguished for his vanity and arrogant mode of life. He used to wear a purple dress, a golden crown on his head, to hold in his hand a staff studded with golden nails, and to wear golden latches to his shoes (Aelian. Var. Hist. ix. 11). He was once beaten by Timanthes, in the subject of Ajax disputing with Ulysses respecting the arms of Achilles (Plin. xxxv. 36, 7-11; Athen. xii. 543, c. d. xv. 687, b. c.).