Damon
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Damonis Proper-name noun: masculine genitive singular of Damon
- A Pythagorean, celebrated on account of the friendship between him and Phintias, Cic. Off. 3, 10, 45; Val. Max. 4, 7.—
- II An Athenian musician, teacher of Socrates, Cic. de Or. 3, 33; Nep. Epam. 2.—
- III A goat-herd, Verg. E. 3, 17; 8, 1 sq.
- 1. pythagoreïsch filosoof te Syracuse, vriend v. Phintias;
- 2. musicus uit Athene, leraar v. Socrates.
(Δάμων).
1. An Athenian, who joined his countryman Philogenes in supplying ships to the Phocians and leading them into Asia at the time of the Ionian migration. These were the settlers by whom Phocaea was founded. (Paus. 7.2, 3; comp. Hdt. 1.146; Strab. xiv. p.633.)
2. A Pythagorean, and friend of Pythias or Phintias, who was a member of the same sect. When the latter was condemned to die for a plot against Dionysius I. of Syracuse, he asked leave of the tyrant to depart for the purpose of arranging his domestic affairs, promising to find a friend who would be pledge for his appearance at the time appointed for his punishment. To the surprise of Dionysius, Damon unhesitatingly offered himself to be put to death instead of his friend, should he fail to return. Phintias arrived just in time to redeem Damon, and Dionysius was so struck with this instance of firm friendship on both sides, that he pardoned the criminal, and entreated to be admitted as a third into their bond of brotherhood. (Diod. x. Fragm. 3; Iamblich. Vit. Pyth. 33; Cic. de Off. 3.10, Tusc. Quaest. 5.22; V. Max. 4.7, Ext. 1.)
3. A youth of Chaeroneia and a descendant of the seer Peripoltas, by whose name he was also called. Having been insulted with a degrading proposal by a Roman officer who was wintering at Chaeroneia, he engaged in his cause a body of his companions, assassinated the Roman, and fled with his adherents from the city. The Chaeroneans, alarmed for the consequences, condemned him to death; but Damon continuing to defy them successfully, and to ravage their lands, the council decoyed him back by fair promises, and had him murdered. It was said, that in the vapour-bath where he was killed strange sights were long seen and strange sounds heard. (Plut. Cim. 1.) [E.E]
(Δάμων).
1. Of Athens, a celebrated musician and sophist. He was a pupil of Lamprus and Agathocles, and the teacher of Pericles, with whom he lived on the most intimate terms. Socrates also, who esteemed him very highly, is said to have profited by his instructions. (Cic. de Orat. 2.33; Plut. Per. 4; D. L. 2.19.) Damon was no ordinary man. His penetration and acumen are particularly extolled by Plato in his work on the Republic, and he had cultivated his intellectual powers by constant intercourse with the most distinguished men of his time, such as Prodicus and others. His influence in political affairs was very great. In his old age he was banished from Athens, probably on account of the part he had taken in plitics. Damon maintained, that simplicity was the highest law of music, and that it had a very intimate connexion with morality and the development of man's nature. (Plat. Laches, p. 197d., Alcibiad. p. 118, de Rep. iv. p. 424c., iii. p. 400; Plut. Arist. 1; compare Groen van Prinsteres, Prosopographia Platonica, pp. 186-188.)
2. A writer of proverbs, generally called Demon. [Demon.] [A.S]
(Δάμων).
1. Of Cyrene, a Greek author of uncertain date, who wrote a work on the philosophers (περὶ τῶν Φιλοσόφων, D. L. 1.40).
2. Of Byzantium, wrote a work on his native place, from which an extract is quoted by Aelian. (V. H. 3.14; comp. Athen. 10.442.) Pliny (Plin. Nat. 7.2) speaks of a Damon who seems to have written on Aethiopia. [L.S]
(Δάμων). (1) A Pythagorean philosopher of Syracuse, united by ties of the firmest friendship to Phintias (not Pythias, as the name is commonly given), another Pythagorean, of the same city. Dionysius, the tyrant, having condemned Phintias to death for conspiring against him, the latter begged that leave might be allowed him to go for a short period to a neighbouring place, in order to arrange some family affairs, and offered to leave one of his friends in the hands of Dionysius as a pledge for his return by an appointed time, and who would be willing, in case Phintias broke his word, to die in his stead. Dionysius, sceptical as to the existence of such friendship, and prompted by curiosity, assented to the arrangement, and Damon took the place of Phintias. The day appointed for the return of the latter arrived, and public expectation was highly excited as to the probable issue of this singular affair. The day drew to a close; no Phintias came; and Damon was in the act of being led to execution, when, of a sudden, the absent friend, who had been detained by unforeseen and unavoidable obstacles, presented himself to the eyes of the admiring crowd and saved the life of Damon. Dionysius was so much struck by this instance of true attachment that he pardoned Phintias, and entreated the two to allow him to share their friendship (Val. Max. iv. 7; De Amic. Mult.).
(2) An Athenian sophist, the teacher of Pericles and perhaps of Socrates (Diog. Laert.ii. 19).
- Olympic victor: Paus. 4.27.9, Paus. 6.5.3, Paus. 7.25.4, Paus. 8.27.8
- son of Euctemon, leads Phocians to Asia: Paus. 7.2.4, Paus. 7.3.10