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 paid 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
- ↑ MacDowell 2009, pp. 109–110
- ↑ MacDowell 2009, pp. 110–111
- ↑ MacDowell 2009, pp. 110–111
- ↑ MacDowell 2009, p. 111
- ↑ MacDowell 2009, p. 111
- ↑ MacDowell 2009, p. 114
- MacDowell, D.M. (2009). Demosthenes the Orator. Oxford: Oxford University Press.