Do you know what a sword of Damocles is?

The famous expression "sword of Damocles" goes back to the ancient moral parable, which was popularized by the Roman philosopher Cicero in 45 BC. E. Cicero tells of Dionysus II, the tyrant king, who once ruled in the Sicilian city of Syracuse during the fourth and fifth centuries BC.

The Parable of the King

Dionysius was rich and powerful, but extremely unhappy. Because of his ruthless style of government, he made many enemies, and at every step he feared murder. As a result, he slept in the bedchamber, which was surrounded by a moat, and only trusted his own daughter to help him shave his beard.

Who was Damocles?

Cicero says that such dissatisfaction with his life overtook the king after one flattering judge named Damocles showered him with compliments and replaced how blessed his life should be. "If my life so admires you," answered the irritated Dionysius, "you can try it on your own experience." When Damocles agreed, the king seated him on a golden sofa and ordered a multitude of servants to wait beside him. He brought juicy pieces of meat and offered fragrant perfumes and ointments. Damocles could not believe in his luck. But enjoying the life of the king, he noticed that Dionysius also hung a razor-sharp sword to the ceiling. He was located directly above the head of Damocles, and held his only thread from horsehair. Since then, the fear of the courtier for his life did not allow him to enjoy the splendor of the feast and the help of servants. Throwing some nervous glances at the sword that hung over him, Damocles asked to be released, for he no longer felt that he was very lucky.

For Cicero, the story of Dionysus and Damocles confirmed the idea that there is always a specter of anxiety and death over the authorities, and that those who are constantly afraid of something can not be happy.

Modern meaning

Later in medieval literature this parable became the leitmotif, and the expression "dumpling sword" is now widely used to describe the feeling of danger looming. One of the most famous cases of its use - in 1961, during the Cold War, when US President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech to the United Nations. He said: "Every man, woman or child lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles, capable of falling at any time because of chance, miscalculation or insanity."