Damon and Pythias

3.45), Diodorus Siculus (10.4), and others, Pythias and his friend Damon, both followers of the philosopher Pythagoras, traveled to Syracuse during the reign of the tyrant Dionysius I (r. 405–367 BC).

Accepting his sentence, Pythias asked to be allowed to return home one last time to settle his affairs and bid his family farewell.

Not wanting to be taken for a fool, the king refused, believing that, once released, Pythias would flee and never return.

Apologizing to his friend for the delay, Pythias explained that on the passage back to Syracuse, pirates had captured his ship and had thrown him overboard, but that he had swum to shore and made his way back to Syracuse as quickly as possible, arriving just in time to save his friend.

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