Damon and Pythias

or Phintias, two noble citizens of Syracuse, noted for their supreme friendship. Phintias, having incurred the displeasure of the tryant Dionysius, was condemned to die. He begged to be allowed to go home to put his affairs in order. This was agreed to, Damon taking his place in prison. In some way Phintias was delayed. In spite of the jeers of the populace Damon defended his friend's absence with the utmost confidence in his fidelity. Phintias arrived just as Damon was being led out to die in his place. He cast himself into his friend's arms, demanding the latter's instant release and his own execution. Each begged to die for the other. The tryant was so affected by this constancy that he set them both free, and asked to become a third in their fellowship. The friendship of these two has been the subject of many an allusion and the theme of the drama in more than one language.