a Christian sect. See CATAPHRYGIANS and MONTANISTS.

**PHYRENE**, was a famous prostitute, who flourished at Athens about 328 years before the Christian era. She was mistress of Praxiteles, who drew her picture, which was one of his best pieces, and was placed in the temple of Apollo at Delphi. We are told that Apelles painted his Venus Anadyomene after he had seen Phryne on the sea-shore naked, and with dishevelled hair. Phryne became so very rich by the liberality of her lovers, that she offered to rebuild Thebes at her own expense, which Alexander had destroyed, provided this inscription was placed on the walls: *Alexander duxit, sed meretrix Phryne refecit*; which was refused. See Plin. 34. c. 8.—There was another of the same name who was accused of impiety. When she found that she was going to be condemned, she unveiled her Phrygian bonnet, which so influenced her judges, that she was immediately acquitted.