As we know, fathers love their children, especially their daughters. Men treat their little girls like princesses and will do anything to protect them. Well, a daughter, too, can go to any extent to protect her father if needed. Take, for instance, breastfeeding her father to keep him alive. It sounds strange, but that’s exactly what a woman named Pero did to save her father, Cimon.

Poor Man

In ancient Greece, life (of a common man) was very tough. A hungry man named Cimon had no money to buy food, so he decided to steal a loaf of bread. Unfortunately, he wasn’t a skilled thief and got caught.

When presented to the officials for his “heinous” crime, the statesmen couldn’t imagine a lesser punishment than death. After all, the laws (for a common man) were also very harsh. They typically hanged such a poor man, but since Cimon’s crime was bread theft — driven by hunger — he was sentenced to death by starvation.

But Cimon had a loving daughter who pleaded with the authorities to allow her to visit him daily. It was a humble request, and surprisingly, it was granted. However, she was warned that if she tried any tricks — such as smuggling food to him — she would face an even worse punishment than her father.

A Risky Plan

Cimon’s daughter was determined not to let her father die. But what could she do? She was thoroughly searched before each visit, possibly more thoroughly if the guards were being flirtatious. She couldn’t sneak food in, but after some brainstorming, she came up with a bizarre idea.

She was a mother of a toddler and still producing milk. She decided to breastfeed her father to keep him alive. It was a bold and risky decision. Her father would certainly die, and so would she.

It’s hard to imagine what went through her mind. Logic might have told her to refrain from doing such a thing — after all, how long could she keep him alive this way? Both she and her father knew that the guards would eventually catch on, and the consequences would be severe.

The Shocking Discovery

Weeks passed, and Cimon was still alive. The guards began to wonder why. How could he survive for so long without food? There was only one possibility: his daughter must be feeding him somehow. But how, when she was being searched each time?

One day, the guards decided to spy on them and were shocked to discover the old man being breastfed by his daughter. The court was equally astonished when they learned of this determined daughter’s actions.

Though the court was expected to punish them, they had never encountered such a case before and were moved by the powerful bond between father and daughter. Instead of sentencing them, they set both of them free.

In conclusion, the story of Pero and Cimon, often referred to as Roman Charity, is a powerful testament to how love can inspire extraordinary acts of bravery and compassion.