1. DAMON AND PYTHIAS
This story happened in Syracuse, Sicily in the fourth century before the birth of Christ. The tyrant or
king of this Greek town was Dionysius. Ruling over Syracuse with a strong hand, he made it one of the most
powerful cities. He could be extremely wicked and cruel. In spite of his great power, Dionysius had no friends.
He was a lonely man, suspicious of everybody. His subjects feared him. They did not love him.
In Syracuse was a group of men who realized that many of the acts of Dionysius were just and
unwise. One of them was Damon. He was courageous enough to speak publicly against the cruelty of the
tyrant. When Dionysius learned of it, he had Damon seized and thrown into prison. Damon was sentenced to
die.
Damon bravely accepted his death sentence, but he wanted to see his family before he died. He
begged permission to visit his family and bid them good-bye. Dionysius laughed, “If I give you permission,
what guarantee do I have that you will not escape? I give no prisoner of mine a chance to save himself.”
“I know that,” Damon answered”, “but I have a friend Pythias. He is willing to take my place until I
return.
Dionysius was astounded, “Does Pythias realize that, if you do not return, he must die in your place?”
Pythias accepted these terms. Friendship between the two was so strong that Pythias felt it an honor to suffer
death in place of Damon. Dionysius granted Damon six hours of freedom. Then he commanded his soldiers to
guard Pythias until Damon’s return.
Four hours passed, five hours passed, and still Damon did not come. Pythias realize waited patiently.
A few minutes before the end of the sixth hour, Dionysius descended into the prison to see Pythias die. He
ridiculed Pythias for trusting his friend. Then he ordered the executioners to delay no longer the execution.
At this very moment, Damon breathless and mud-stained, dashed into the prison. He embraced his
friend and explained that his horse became exhausted and died. He had to find another horse to continue his
journey. Now he was ready to die, happy because he had been able to bid farewell to his family and return in
time to save his friend’s life.
Dionysius was amazed. Never in his life had he seen such loyalty. Never had he imagined that a man
would be willing to die that his friend might live. He was filled with great warmth and compassion. Now he
knew that true friendship was more precious than his power and wealth. The proud tyrant walked over to the
two friends and embraced them. Humbly, he begged them to make him their friend. Damon and Pythias and
Dionysius walked out of the darkness of the prison into the sunlight together.
DAMON AND PYTHIAS
This story happened in Syracuse, Sicily in the fourth century before the birth of Christ. The tyrant or
king of this Greek town was Dionysius. Ruling over Syracuse with a strong hand, he made it one of the most
powerful cities. He could be extremely wicked and cruel. In spite of his great power, Dionysius had no friends.
He was a lonely man, suspicious of everybody. His subjects feared him. They did not love him.
In Syracuse was a group of men who realized that many of the acts of Dionysius were just and
unwise. One of them was Damon. He was courageous enough to speak publicly against the cruelty of the
tyrant. When Dionysius learned of it, he had Damon seized and thrown into prison. Damon was sentenced to
die.
Damon bravely accepted his death sentence, but he wanted to see his family before he died. He
begged permission to visit his family and bid them good-bye. Dionysius laughed, “If I give you permission,
what guarantee do I have that you will not escape? I give no prisoner of mine a chance to save himself.”
“I know that,” Damon answered”, “but I have a friend Pythias. He is willing to take my place until I
return.
Dionysius was astounded, “Does Pythias realize that, if you do not return, he must die in your place?”
Pythias accepted these terms. Friendship between the two was so strong that Pythias felt it an honor to suffer
death in place of Damon. Dionysius granted Damon six hours of freedom. Then he commanded his soldiers to
guard Pythias until Damon’s return.
Four hours passed, five hours passed, and still Damon did not come. Pythias realize waited patiently.
A few minutes before the end of the sixth hour, Dionysius descended into the prison to see Pythias die. He
ridiculed Pythias for trusting his friend. Then he ordered the executioners to delay no longer the execution.
At this very moment, Damon breathless and mud-stained, dashed into the prison. He embraced his
friend and explained that his horse became exhausted and died. He had to find another horse to continue his
journey. Now he was ready to die, happy because he had been able to bid farewell to his family and return in
time to save his friend’s life.
Dionysius was amazed. Never in his life had he seen such loyalty. Never had he imagined that a man
would be willing to die that his friend might live. He was filled with great warmth and compassion. Now he
knew that true friendship was more precious than his power and wealth. The proud tyrant walked over to the
two friends and embraced them. Humbly, he begged them to make him their friend. Damon and Pythias and
Dionysius walked out of the darkness of the prison into the sunlight together.
