The Knights of Pythias is an organization named after the Greek story of Damon and Pythias, two friends who were willing to die for one another. The story goes that Damon had criticized the king of Syracuse for obtaining the throne by fraud. Damon was condemned to death, however before being  executed, he wanted the chance to see his wife and child one last time.  His friend, Pythias, offered to stand in Damon’s place should Damon not come back. 

The founder of the Knights of Pythias, Justus H. Rathbone, based the founding principles of the order (Friendship, Charity and  Benevolence) on this story which at the time had been turned into a  popular play.

The order was officially established in 1868 via congressional charter approved by President Abraham Lincoln, and was the first fraternal organization to be chartered by Congress in the United  States. Lincoln believed that the founding principles of the order would  promote national unity following the Civil War.