In Hesiod's Theogony, the Phonoi are listed among the children of Eris (Strife).
[2] The Phonoi are named in line 228 of the Theogony, which lists four personified plural abstractions, the Hysminai (Combats), the Machai (Battles), the Phonoi (Murders), and the Androktasiai (Slaughters), as being among the offspring of Eris (Strife): The nearly identical line, listing the same four abstractions (without capitalizations, and with different case endings), in the same order, occurs in Homer's Odyssey, where Odysseus describes the decorations on Heracles' golden belt: Like all of the children of Eris given by Hesiod, the Phonoi are a personified abstraction, allegorizing the meaning of their name, and representing one of the many harmful things which might be thought to result from discord and strife, with no other identity.
In one section of this long description, Phonos is mentioned along with other personifications associated with battle: Upon it were wrought Pursuit [Proioxis] and Rally [Palioxis]; upon it burned Tumult [Homados] and Murder [Phonos] and Slaughter [Androktasia]; upon it was Strife [Eris], upon it rushed Battle-Din [Kydoimos], upon it deadly Fate [Ker] was dragging men by the feet through the battle, holding one who was alive but freshly wounded, another who was unwounded, another who had died.
Around her [Fate's] shoulders she wore a cloak, purple with the blood of men, and she glared terribly and bellowed with a clanging sound.
"[8] In the Posthomerica of Quintus Smyrnaeus, "dreadful" Phonos (along with Kydoimos) "stalked" the battle field.