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Damocles [a] is a character who appears in a (likely apocryphal) anecdote commonly referred to as "the sword of Damocles", [1] [2] an allusion to the imminent and ever-present peril faced by those in positions of power.
Oct 1, 2024 · Damocles, a courtier of Dionysius I of Syracuse, in Sicily, tyrant from 405 to 367 BCE. The courtier is known to history through the legend of the ‘Sword of Damocles,’ which was related in Cicero’s Tusculanae disputationes (‘Conversations at Tusculum’), Book V.
Feb 17, 2016 · The famed “sword of Damocles” dates back to an ancient moral parable popularized by the Roman philosopher Cicero in his 45 B.C. book “Tusculan Disputations.”
Apr 12, 2018 · The Sword of Damocles story appears in the fifth book, which argues that virtue is sufficient for living a happy life, and in Book V Cicero describes in detail what an utterly miserable man Dionysius was.
In Greek mythology, Damocles (da-mo-KLEES) was a friend of Dionysus (die-oh-NIS-ee-us), the king of Syracuse from 405 to 367 BC. According to legend, when he spoke of the good life of King Dionysus, the king invited him to a banquet (large public meal).
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May 29, 2018 · Damocles a legendary courtier who extravagantly praised the happiness of Dionysius I, ruler of Syracuse. To show him how precarious this happiness was, Dionysius seated him at a banquet with a sword hung by a single hair over his head.
May 20, 2024 · A painting illustrating the story of the Sword of Damocles by Westall. Credit: Public Domain. The story of the “Sword of Damocles” is one of the most well-known from ancient Greek history, and it perfectly illustrates the dangers that come with taking on a massive amount of power.
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Damocles, Sword of. Damocles was a member of the court of Dionysius, ruler of the Sicilian city of Syracuse during the 300s B . C . According to a legend passed on by the Roman writer Cicero, Damocles told Dionysius how much he envied his kingly wealth, power, and happiness.
Jul 20, 1999 · Damocles. The sycophant of Dionysius the Elder, the tyrant of Syracuse. When he expressed his envy of his master's felicity, Dionysius invited him to try it for himself. He was set down at a sumptuous banquet, but overhead was a sword suspended by a single horse-hair.
The Sword of Damocles is a metaphorical phrase that symbolizes the ever-present danger and insecurity that comes with great power or fortune. It originates from a tale about Damocles, a courtier of King Dionysius II of Syracuse, who envied the king's power and luxury.
