For Phormion

For Phormion (Ancient Greek: Παραγραφὴ ὑπὲρ Φορμίωνος 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]

The speech deals with a dispute between Apollodoros of Acharnae and his stepfather Phormion, over the handling of Apollodoros' inheritance.^[2] Apollodoros had claimed that Phormion had never payed back an 11 talent loan, and prosecuted Phormion in order to compel him to return this along with interest – a total of 20 talents.^[3] In order to block this, Phormion counter-sued, claiming that Apollodoros had previously made a formal declaration that all of Phormion's debts to him had been fulfilled; Apollodoros, he claimed, therefore did not have standing to sue.^[4] For Phormion was written to be delivered as part of this countersuit.^[5]

We know from Apollodoros' first speech Against Stephanos that this countersuit was successful, and that Phormion won the case.^[6]

References

1. MacDowell 2009, pp. 109–110
2. MacDowell 2009, pp. 110–111
3. MacDowell 2009, pp. 110–111
4. MacDowell 2009, p. 111
5. MacDowell 2009, p. 111
6. MacDowell 2009, p. 114

• MacDowell, D.M. (2009). Demosthenes the Orator. Oxford: Oxford University Press.