The genus Phacus Walckenaer and nine other pholcid genera are characterized by a simplified type of combhair on the fourth tarsi. This supposedly monophyleric group (Piraeus group of genera) is herein revised, with special emphasis on Pholcus, the largest genus in the family Pholcidae. The group is largely restricted to the Old World, with a few exceptions of presumably relict and newly introduced species in the New World. As revised here, the group includes 320 species, most of which (254) belong to the genus Pharr's. Eighty three previously described species are redescribed; some are illustrated for the first time. A first cladistic analysis based on morphological data is presented for the group. The new genus SihaGa is proposed for Pholcus ceylonicus from Sri Lanka and a newly described Indian species. Further new genera arc indicated by the cladistic analysis, but a conservative approach is adopted due to weak support and poor diagnosability of the respective clades. 112 species are newly described: in Calapnita: C deelemanae, C. saluang, C sernengob; in Leprophacus: L. budongo, L. debakkeri, L. dschang, L. griswadi, L. gurnahi, L. huongson, L. kandy, L. thkobe, L. tzgazidja, L. am, L. talatakely; in Mirromerys: Alm. belittler, Mm. papua; in Panjange: Pa. bako, Pa. iban, Pa. madang; in Pehrliffsskalia: Pe. bilene Pe. shambaa; in Pharos: Ph. agadir. Ph. amani, Ph. andslau, Ph. aregat Ph. arkit, Ph. attideh, Ph. baka, Ph. bakweri, Ph. bamboutos, Ph. banglii, Ph. batepa, Ph. bikilai Ph. bohorok, Ph. bolikhamsai, Ph. camber, Ph. cheara, Ph. chiangdao, Ph. rhoctaw, Ph. cibodas, Ph. dade, Ph. dixie, Ph. donelti, Ph. erawan, Ph. ethagala, Ph. gombak, Ph. halabala, Ph. hoyo, Ph. burau, Ph. jaegeri, Ph. jusahi, Ph. kamkay Ph. karawari, Ph. kerinci Ph. khene, Ph. kihansi, Ph. kinabau, Ph. !thither, Pb. kings, Ph. koasati, Ph. kohi, Ph. kribi, Ph. boalpig-1mi, Ph. kyondo, Ph. laksao, Ph. lanieri, Pb. leelang, Ph. Nangai, Ph. hadaba, Ph. luki, Ph. lupanga, Ph. maturam, Ph. mazumbai, Ph. mbuti, Ph. mecheria, Ph. mentawir, Ph. miming, Pb. moca, Ph. nodong, Ph. namkhan, Ph. Flamm, Ph. negara, Ph. nkoetye, Ph. okgye, Ph. otomi, Pb. pagbdao, Ph. pakse, Ph. phut, Ph. pyu, Ph. reevesi, Ph. ruteng, Ph. sabah, Ph. satun, Ph. schwendingeri, Ph. sepaku, Ph. simbok, Ph. singalang, l'li. souleons, Ph. steineri, Ph. sudhami, Ph. taamb, Ph. mhai, Ph. mita, Ph. thakek, Ph. twa, Ph. varirata, Ph. wahehe, Ph. woongil, Ph. yeongzva, Ph. youngae; in Sihala: S. alagarkoib in Winer: U. mtchabufi. The following taxa are newly synonymized: Spermophom torlgiverliris Simon, 1893 and Piraeus woman Huber, 2001 with Uthina luz.onica Simon, 1893; Phoicus daviger Simon, 1877 with Physogclus gthbosus (laczanowski, 1874); Phacus lucifitgus Simon & Fage, 1922 with Phacus lamperri Strand, 1907; Pholcus dentifronsThorell, 1898 with Phacus quinquenotatus Thorell, 1878; ['hams donensis Ponomarev, 2005 with Phacus opilionoides (Schrank, 1781); Pharus xinliangensis lin &Wu, 1989 with Pholcus ponticusThorell, 1875; Phacus vachoni Dimitrov & Ribera, 2005 with Nelms,firerteventurensis Wunderlich, 1992; Piraeus lambertoni Millot, 1946 with Pholcus phathngioides (Fuesslin, 1775); Pholcus okinawaensis Irie, 2002 with Pharus fi-agillimus Strand, 1907. Pholcus zichyi Kulczynski, 1901 is re-established and removed from its synonymy with Pholcus cgpticaens.Seven species are transferred to other genera; to Leptopholcus: Pholcus podophthahnus Simon, 1893; to Pharus: Uthina atrigularis Simon, 1901, Spermophora faveauxi Lawrence, 1967, Leptophacus dclallis (Thorell, 1899); to Panjange: Spernrophora dubia Kulczyriski, 1911; to Sihala n. gen.: Pharus ceylonicus 0. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869; to Smeringopus: Pholcus excavatus Simon, 1877.