The sword of Damocles is a metaphor commonly used to refer to an imminent and close danger that all those who have a position of power must face. The expression comes from a legend supposedly told by the Roman philosopher Cicero. It was about Damocles, a courtier of King Dionysius I, who ruled in Syracuse in the 4th century BC.Ç. In this article we will provide you the summary of the sword of damocles.
For several centuries, the expression “being under the sword of Damocles” has been used to symbolize the fragility of positions of power. Other people use this expression in the sense that happiness is always temporary.
Even some scholars believe that the meaning Cicero attached to this phrase was that life is too short and death is always chasing us. This metaphor, then, would serve to remind people that they should try to enjoy the present moment, despite what happens around them.
History of the Sword of Damocles
According to Cicero, Damocles was a courtier in the reign of the tyrant Dionysius I. Legend has it that Damocles was trying to gain the king’s favor by constantly tampering with him, but deep down he was jealous of his wealth and power.
However, Dionysus was known as cruel and tyrannical, so most of his subjects secretly hated him. Damocles, who focused only on the luxuries the king was surrounded by, could not see the dangers his position posed.
One day, Damocles, consumed by envy, spoke to Dionysus and said:
– «You must be very happy! You have everything a man could want: fame, money, fans … »
The king, tired of the constant flattery of his subject, proposed a change of office. For an entire day, Damocles was able to live like him, reigning and enjoying all the luxuries that the palace could offer. Damocles, who thought the king‘s wealth would make him happy, accepted without hesitation.
The next day, Damocles arrived at the palace, where all the servants did their best to fulfill his every wish. They sat him on a throne in the banquet hall, where he spent the whole day surrounded by the best music, exquisite and exotic dishes, women dancing for him, the best entertainment…
Damocles felt the happiest man in the world; he couldn’t think of anything that could cloud his joy at that moment. However, when he looked up at the ceiling, he saw something that made him uncomfortable.
From his head hung a very sharp sword, the point practically grazing him. She was suspended from a single horsehair, which could break at any moment and end her life.
From the moment he saw the sword, Damocles could not enjoy the pleasures offered by the palace. Dionysus, who was watching him the whole time, asked him what the problem was. Damocles, astonished, pointed to the danger looming over his head.
“Yes,” said the tyrant, “I know there is a sword threatening your life. But why should that concern you? I am always exposed to dangers that could make me lose my life at any moment.
At that moment, Damocles realized his mistake and asked the king to let him go. From that day on, he realized that wealth and power also had a downside; and he never again wanted the king’s money, fame or position.
meaning of the story
Cicero, the originator of the legend of the sword of Damocles, was an important figure in Roman times. Being an influential person, he received teachings from many different teachers; and one of the currents of thought that most affected his life was that of stoicism.
The Stoics thought that the secret to living a happy life was not in circumstances, wealth or power. According to them, to achieve happiness, just accept the circumstances in which you find yourself and choose to live life according to your own values.
Therefore, Cicero’s main purpose in telling this story was to show that wealth and power do not have the capacity to make us happy more than momentarily. In this sense, the Roman philosopher thought that those in power live under constant pressure, which makes it difficult to achieve permanent happiness.
On the other hand, he also used the legend of the sword of Damocles as a critique of the tyrant Dionysus, one of the most hated monarchs of antiquity. He was a very intelligent king, but he abused his knowledge and power to live surrounded by luxuries at the expense of his subjects.
Cicero often compared the life of Dionysus, which he believed would not lead to happiness, with that of ancient sages such as Plato or Archimedes.
According to him, these two scholars would have lived happy lives because they dedicated themselves to being virtuous, without focusing on external wealth or power.
Moral
Different authors have proposed various interpretations for the morality of the sword of Damocles:
The most obvious and generally accepted interpretation is that power and wealth do not have the ability to make us happy on their own. This happens because both bring their own problems, sometimes more serious than the ones they solve.
Another possible interpretation of the story is to warn readers that they should not judge others without fully knowing their situation. In the story, Damocles only wanted the king‘s position until he realized what it really entailed.
A third lesson that can be drawn from the story is that death can come at any moment; therefore, we should try to live in the present moment and enjoy it as much as possible. This moral was very common in the teachings of Stoic philosophers.
