"For Phormion" (Ancient Greek: Παραγραφὴ ὑπὲρ Φορμίωνος, romanized: Paragraphe Hyper Phormionos) was a speech composed by the Athenian logographer Demosthenes. It was delivered on Phormion's behalf, possibly by Demosthenes himself, probably in 350–49 BC.[1] It is the thirty-sixth speech in the Demosthenic Corpus.

Contents

Phormion[lower-alpha 1] was a former slave who had been given his freedom as a reward for his good service. When Pasion, his former owner, died, Phormion was named in the will as one of the guardians of Pasion's youngest son, who was still a child, in which position he was responsible for the management of Pasion's estate.[2]

"For Phormion" deals with a dispute between Pasion's elder son, Apollodoros of Acharnae and Phormion, over the handling of Apollodoros' inheritance.[3] Apollodoros had claimed that Phormion had never paid back an 11 talent loan, and prosecuted Phormion to compel him to repay it with interest – a total of 20 talents.[3] To block this, Phormion counter-sued, claiming that Apollodoros had previously made a formal declaration that all Phormion's debts to him had been fulfilled. Apollodoros, he claimed, therefore did not have standing to sue.[4] "For Phormion" was written to deliver as part of this countersuit.[4]

The speech was composed to be presented by a supporter of Phormion, rather than Phormion himself. Phormion had apparently been unable to speak, either due to his poor Greek or incapacity due to illness or old age.[5] Though it is not certain whether the speech was delivered by Demosthenes or another friend of Phormion, the orator Dinarchus writes that Demosthenes did give a speech on behalf of Phormion in a trial; it is likely that this is a reference to "For Phormion".[6]

"For Phormion" is one of the few speeches from ancient Athens for which we have any information about the result of the case.[7] Apollodoros' first speech "Against Stephanos" shows that Phormion's countersuit was successful, and he won the case.[8]

Notes

  1. ↑ This Phormion is not the same as the one prosecuted by Chryssipus in "Against Phormion", the 34th speech in the Demosthenic corpus.[2]

References

  1. ↑ MacDowell 2009, pp. 109–110.
  2. 1 2 MacDowell 2004, p. 150.
  3. 1 2 MacDowell 2009, pp. 110–111.
  4. 1 2 MacDowell 2009, p. 111.
  5. ↑ MacDowell 2004, p. 151.
  6. ↑ MacDowell 2004, pp. 151–152.
  7. ↑ MacDowell 2004, p. 152.
  8. ↑ MacDowell 2009, p. 114.

Works cited

  • MacDowell, D.M. (2004). Demosthenes: Speeches 27–38. Austin: University of Texas Press.
  • MacDowell, D.M. (2009). Demosthenes the Orator. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Paley, F. A.; Sandys. J. E. (1886).Select Private Orations of Demosthenes, Part 1 (in Greek with introductory notes in English). Cambridge University Press.
  • Kennedy, Charles Rann (1892). "The Oration for Phormio" Demosthenes. Bohn's Classical Library. London: George Bell & Sons, p. 212ff
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