Phormio

Phormio, or The Scheming Parasite, first performed in 161 BCE, is a comedic play by the great Roman playwright Terence (full name: Publius Terentius Afer). Terence was born a slave in northern Africa. His owner, the Roman senator Terentius Lucanus, was so impressed with his character and abilities that he encouraged his education, and then set him free.

Terence completed all of his plays before the age of thirty; Phormio was his fourth. Phormio is modeled on a play by the third-century BCE Greek playwright Apollodorus of Carystus. That play did not survive into the present, and it’s impossible to tell when Terence followed or changed the original plot. Themes include the nature of romantic love, overbearing parental figures, the need for scheming, and the foolishness of arrogance. Written in a challenging Latin meter, the work is praised for its irony, intricate plot, and introduction of an anti-hero. Terence used a colloquial form of speech that was easy to understand at the time and remains lucid today.

The play opens on a street in Athens. Davus, a servant, says that Demipho and Chremes, who are brothers, must venture out of the city on business (usually to collect rents from the island of Lemnos). Demipho has tasked his trusted servant, Geta, to look out for his family while he is away with Chremes.



Phaedria, the son of Chremes, and Antipho, the son of Demipho, are cousins. While their fathers are away, they happen to fall in love with two young, local women.

Phaedria falls for a harp and flute player named Pamphilia. He would like to marry her, but unfortunately, she’s a slave girl owned by the stingy slave trader, Dorio. Dorio gives Phaedria three days to collect thirty minae, which is a huge sum of money. As he walks through the city to kickstart his purchase of Pamphilia, Phaedria learns that Dorio has already negotiated her purchase with a well-connected sea captain. He confronts Dorio, who admits to the deal, telling Phaedria he now only has one day to buy Pamphilia.

Meanwhile, Antipho has fallen for Phanium, a poor girl who lives in Athens. He goes against his father’s wish that he marry a wealthy girl, and the two are secretly united while his father is out of town. The loyal servant Geta knows that Demipho will be furious to learn what his son has done, so he searches out for a lawyer to ameliorate the situation.



Geta finds the lawyer Phormio. Phormio is a hack attorney; he’s willing to do anything so long as he’s paid handsomely and/or has some fun. He’s young, ambitious, and doesn’t hesitate to tell the world what he wants. Because he does not serve the polis, he is considered a selfish parasite, giving this play its title. (Phormio actually loves the nickname parasite). Phormio is unique among Roman characters because he doesn’t rely on flattery to get his way, but compelling arguments and, if necessary, blackmail brought on by a highly intelligent stratagem.

Phormio finds an esoteric Athenian law that says when a distant female relative is left without a male source of income, the nearest relative has no choice but to marry her. Hearing the law, Geta and Antipho rejoice: they can now tell the head of their house that Antipho had no choice but to marry the poor girl.

Demipho and Chremes return to Athens just before Antipho and Phanium are married. Predictably, they both contest the marriage, saying they don’t know the girl and she’s certainly not a relative. But Phormio concocts a story about a distant relative named Stilpo. Demipho throws his hands in the air: he’s never even heard of this so-called relative. An arrogant man, he’s dumbstruck that his son wouldn’t try to better his social station by marrying a more socially esteemed woman.



Demipho and Chremes decide that the only way they can keep Antipho from marrying the poor girl Phanium is to bribe Phormio to marry her. Phormio, on the surface, accepts the deal. But being the crafty person that he is, Phormio knows that he can benefit even more from this family strife. Phormio gives half of the huge bribe to Phaedria so he can purchase Pamphilia. He suspects this will create a sense of obligation that he can exploit further on.

Demipho and Chremes learn that, through a complicated secret marriage years ago, Phanium truly is one of their relatives; they consent to the marriage. (Phanium and Phaedria are half-siblings). No longer needing Phormio’s services, they demand that their money be returned. Phormio refuses. They threaten him. But before they can cause true violence, Phormio tells Chremes’s wife, Nausistrata that her husband was already married when he married her. In fact, he knows that Chremes is the father of Phanium (who is now her daughter-in-law).

She’s furious and tells Phormio to keep the money. She welcomes Phormio to her house for a nice dinner. As the play closes, Antipho and Phaedria eat with their respective wives. Despite all the chaos circling around them, each pair is happy.