2006-11-03 13:11:21 · 4 answers · asked by john k 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
Damocles is a figure featured in a single moral anecdote which was a late addition to classical Greek culture.
The figure belongs properly to legend rather than Greek mythology. The anecdote apparently figured in the lost history of Sicily by Timaeus of Tauromenium (c. 356 - 260 BC). Cicero may have read it in Diodorus Siculus. He made use of it in his Tusculan Disputations V.61 - 62.
Damocles was an excessively flattering courtier in the court of Dionysius I of Syracuse, a 4th Century BC tyrant of Syracuse, Italy. He exclaimed that, as a great man of power and authority, Dionysius was truly fortunate. Dionysius offered to switch places with him for a day, so he could taste first hand that fortune. In the evening a banquet was held, where Damocles very much enjoyed being waited upon like a king. Only at the end of the meal did he look up and notice a sharpened sword hanging by a single piece of horsehair directly above his head. Immediately, he lost all taste for the fine foods and beautiful boys and asked leave of the tyrant, saying he no longer wanted to be so fortunate.
The Sword of Damocles is a frequently used allusion to this tale, epitomizing the imminent and ever-present peril faced by those in positions of power. More generally, it is used to denote a precarious situation and sense of foreboding thereof, especially one in which the onset of tragedy is restrained only by a delicate trigger or chance. Moreover, it can be seen as a lesson in the importance of understanding someone's experience.
Woodcut images of the Sword of Damocles as a symbol appear in 16th and 17th century European books of devices.
Compare the imagery connected with Tyche and Fortuna.
2006-11-04 03:30:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Damocles (not domocles) was an ancient Greek who criticised the king by saying he had a pretty soft job -- just sit on the throne all day and have the kingdom serve him. To teach him a lesson, the king invited Damocles to a fancy dinner and to sit in the kng's place at the table. Midway through the meal, Damocles looked up and noticed, to his horror, that a huge sword was suspended directly over his head, suspended by a hair. It could come crashing down and kill him at any moment. Naturally he had trouble enjoying the rest of his meal. The king explained that this was what the real life of a king was like -- not knowing if, or when, disaster would befall him.
(This is also the source of the phrase "hanging by a hair") -- M
2006-11-03 13:29:46 · answer #2 · answered by stage.mike 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Constant threat; imminent peril
2006-11-03 13:15:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This should help
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_of_Damocles
2006-11-03 13:19:56 · answer #4 · answered by bamba_982 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋