Part 19: Sword of Damocles
The term "sword of Damocles" refers to a looming calamity or impending disaster. So if Susan says George's sword of Damocles is hanging over his head, she probably means that something horrible is about to happen to him.
Here are a few examples:
(1) "The rumours of likely lay-offs have been a sword of Damocles over the company's employees for months."
(2) "Every man, woman and child lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles, hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut at any moment by accident or miscalculation or by madness.
John F Kennedy
(3) "The new tax law is proving to be a sword of Damocles hanging over common citizens."
Damocles is a character in The Tusculan Disputations, a 45 BC book by a Roman philosopher named Cicero.
Damocles was the official flatterer of King Dionysius II, a tyrannical king who ruled Syracuse in the 4th century BC. King Dionysius, despite his wealth and power, was a miserable man. His authoritarian leadership had earned him so many opponents that the fear of assassination haunted him. As a result, he rarely slept and trusted only his daughters to shave his beard.
Damocles once said to King Dionysius, "You must feel so blessed and glad to have so much power and wealth," and Dionysius became enraged because he thought Damocles was mocking him.
"Since this life pleases you," an irritated Dionysius said, "do you want to try it for yourself and put my good fortune to the test?"
Dionysius sat Damocles on a golden throne and commanded hundreds of servants to attend to him. The servants pampered him with the best perfumes, ointments, delicious means and brought him dozens of mistresses.
Damocles couldn't believe his luck, but just as he was getting used to being a king, he saw Dionysius had also hung a razor-sharp sword from the ceiling. It was suspended merely by a single strand of horsehair over Damocles' head.
Damocles's anxiety for his safety made it difficult for him to enjoy the richness of the feast or the attendants from then on. Finally, after glancing at the blade swinging over him, he asked to be excused, claiming he no longer wished to be so fortunate.
