It is widely presumed that he originated from Syria and the Levant, c. 440 BC when vast numbers of Syrian slaves were brought to Greece through Phoenician ports, Tyre and Sidon.
During his slavery, he quickly rose to chief clerk (Argyramoibos) in charge of a money-changing table at the port, and proved so valuable that by 394 BC, he had been manumitted and granted resident alien status as reward for his faithful service.
[3] When his owners retired, Pasion inherited the bank and established a shield factory.
Ultimately, Pasion was granted Athenian citizenship and started investing in real estate in order to accumulate more wealth.
[4] When Pasion died in 370 BC,[5] his widow married Phormion in order to keep the bank in the family.