Damon and Pythias

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Damon and Pythias

(ˈdeɪmən)

(Classical Myth & Legend) classical myth two friends noted for their mutual loyalty. Damon offered himself as a hostage for Pythias, who was to be executed for treason by Dionysius of Syracuse. When Pythias returned to save his friend's life, he was pardoned

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Da′mon and Pyth′ias

(ˈdeɪ mən)
n.

two legendary Greeks of ancient Syracuse, whose mutual loyalty was shown by Damon's offer of his life as a pledge that Pythias, sentenced to death, would return from settling his affairs to face execution.

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Noun

Damon and Pythias - (Greek mythology) according to a Greek legend: when Pythias was sentenced to be executed Damon took his place to allow Pythias to get his affairs in order; when Pythias returned in time to save Damon the king was so impressed that he let them both live

Greek mythology - the mythology of the ancient Greeks

References in classic literature ?

And there rises up before me all that was there foreshadowed, and I see visions of Damon and Pythias, of life-saving crews and Red Cross nurses, of martyrs and leaders of forlorn hopes, of Father Damien, and of the Christ himself, and of all the men of earth, mighty of stature, whose strength may trace back to the elemental loins of Lop-Ear and Big-Tooth and other dim denizens of the Younger World.

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Such unscientific balderdash," added the doctor, flushing suddenly purple, "would have estranged Damon and Pythias."

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But an analysis of the intertextual exchanges among these works that includes Jonson's telescoping--his compression and conflation--of both Marlowe's and Nashe's versions of Hero and Leander with Richard Edwards' Damon and Pythias in London's Smithfield remains outstanding.

Telescoping Translation: Hero and Leander, Lenten Stuffe, and Bartholomew Fair

male friendship in Richard Edwards' Damon and Pythias. The third part, with five essays, looks at entertainments, masques and royal entries, e.g.