Crossword Genius

A true friend of the classics (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

damon

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'a true friend' is the definition.
'damon' can be an answer for 'friend' (I have seen 'faithful friend' mean 'damon' so perhaps 'friend' could also mean 'damon'). I am not certain of the 'a true' bit.

'of the classics' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'of' could be 'o' and 'o' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'damn' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for damon that I've seen before include "faithful friend" , "Writer Runyon's first name" , "Pythias's friend" , "Matt --, US actor" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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