Knights of Pythias
date: label: Date made
content: 1872
name: label: publisher
content: Joseph D. Weeks & Co.
label: issuer
content: Knights of Pythias
label: maker
content: Ehrgott & Krebs
notes: label: Description
content: In 1864, in the midst of the third year of the Civil War, a clerk in the U.S. Treasury named Justus H. Rathbone founded the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization, in Washington, D.C. He hoped that the nation, torn apart by violence and hate, could begin to heal once renewed by the spirit of brotherhood. President Lincoln, upon learning of the group, expressed his approval of its mission and values, and the Knights became the first fraternal organization in the United States to be chartered through an Act of Congress. Rathbone found inspiration for the society in the Greek legend of Damon and Pythias, a story about noble friendship which had been popularized in a 19th-century play by the Irish poet John Banim. This 1872 membership certificate recognized that a brother of the order had progressed through the ranks of Page and Esquire and been initiated as a Knight.
label: Description
content: The print features several illustrations depicting scenes from Banim’s, play Damon and Pythias, which he adapted from the original Greek legend. In the play, Damon is sentenced to death by the cruel tyrant Dionysius. When Damon asks for permission to put his affairs in order and say goodbye to his family, his friend Pythias volunteers to wait in prison in Damon’s place. Dionysius consents to this arrangement, but warns that whomever is in Damon’s cell in six hours will be the one who is executed. Damon returns in time for his execution, battling hardship, injury, and fatigue in his determined effort to save his friend. Dionysius is so moved by their bond that he allows both men to live. In the top left vignette, armed guards bring Damon before the king, who condemns him to death. In the top right vignette, Pythias volunteers to temporarily take Damon’s place, while his friend is forcibly restrained. In the central scene, Pythias points to a sundial, knowing that Damon will arrive in time. Damon is depicted pushing his way through a crowd to save his friend. Below this scene, another illustration shows Damon arguing with his servant next to a dead horse. In the legend, Damon’s servant kills the horse in an attempt to force his master to stay. Despite this setback, Damon returns in time for his execution.
label: Description
content: Included between these scenes are three grisaille imitation statuettes above the letters “FCB,” which stand for the Pythian principles of Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence. Two friends clasping hands represent Friendship, a woman with her fingers to her lips represents Charity, and a knight represents Benevolence.
label: Description
content: The lithographic firm of Ehrgott & Krebs was established by Peter E. Ehrgott (1827-1874) and Adolph Krebs (1831-1884). Peter Ehrgott first started a lithographic company in 1856 in Cincinnati with his partner Adolph Forbriger (1825-1869) as Ehrgott & Forbriger. The company worked under that name from 1856 until Forbriger’s death in 1869. Ehrgott then partnered that same year with Adolph Krebs, to form Ehrgott & Krebs. Adolph Krebs had originally founded Krebs & Brothers in 1856 with his brother Otto, but left to fight in the Civil War. Ehrgott & Krebs produced sheet music, postcards, and prints, and republished some 1865 music pieces by John L. Peters. The firm continued as a partnership until the retirement of Ehrgott in 1874. Adolph Krebs continued the business and changed the name to the Krebs Lithographing Company, which he ran until his death in 1884.
label: Description
content: The print was published by Joseph D. Weeks & Co., which was based in Pittsburgh, although Weeks himself is listed as the Supreme Inner Steward of the Iowa chapter of the Knights, a position he held from 1872 to 1874.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Ohio, Cincinnati
topic: label: Subject
content: European History
label: Subject
content: Costume
label: Subject
content: Chronology: 1870-1879
label: Subject
content: Fraternal Associations
label: referenced
content: Civil War
label: depicted
content: Fraternal Associations
label: related event
content: Civil War
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
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content: American Civil War Prints
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content: Art
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content: Domestic Furnishings
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.60.2399
label: catalog number
content: 60.2399
label: accession number
content: 228146
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Chromolithograph
label: Object Type
content: Chromolithograph
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: ink (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: image: 23 in x 18 1/4 in; 58.42 cm x 46.355 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 24 in x 19 in; 60.96 cm x 48.26 cm