THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES

 “The Sword of Damocles” was a legendry story about Dionysius II. He   was Greek ruler of Syracuse city in Sicily. The ruler apparently looked very happy with all the powers, riches, luxuries, comforts, etc........ which he inherited from his father (Dionysius I) including the ones he acquired personally over the years of ruling.

Character-wise, Dionysius II was a tyrant who could not bear or withstand any criticism made against him and/or his administration. In denial, he even employed court-flatterers to massage and inflate his ego.  One day one of his favourite court-flatterers or fawner named Damocles said to the tyrant- king how he (Damocles) wished he could have an opportunity to be someone as powerful, fortunate and happy as the king.

On hearing his wish, Dionysius II said to Damocles: "If you think I'm so powerful and fortunate, how would you like to try out my life for a period not exceeding seven days? You’re at liberty to resign at any time within the period. "

Damocles decided and accepted the offer gleefully without a second thought.

As Damocles was enjoying the kingly seat on the throne on the first day, he was utterly shocked and felt very upset to see one very sharp naked-double-edged-sword dangled or hanged by thin old thread right above his head.  

When dinner was served Damocles had no appetite to eat. The hunger was overtaken by the fear of an imminent danger from another similar sword hanged similarly right above where he sat by the dinner table.

He retired and was seated on a sofa made of sheep wool in the ante-room by the bedroom. Specially brewed coffee, superb wine and cheese were served in traditional manner. Damocles had totally lost his appetite.

Glancing around the big ante-room, he saw shelves all around neatly and fullly stacked with categorized files. There were: names of big companies; names of Dionysius II’s cabinet ministers; names of top civil servants; names of famous corporate figures; names of opposition leaders, parties and enemies (including eliminated list); ...... and names of individuals.  

Flipping through few selected files, Damocles read and understood (for the first time) the strategic practices of Machiavellianism employed by Dionysius II (and by his father - Dionysius I) in ruling the city with "iron-claws". From the little that he read, Damocles saw evidences of excessive power abuses (including corruptions), and the use of  “Money, Wine and Women” as tools by Dionysius II (and his father) to control his kingdom effectively.

From the shelf entitled “Department of Lies - Court Flatterers ”, he saw and read his own file. The passages were hand-written by Dionysius II which read: “Very well-educated, the best and most  well-paid among the flatterers .... Most flatterers tend to be dangerous.... their flattering are lies and illusive... tend to make ruler carried away from the reality.... YET to employ them is very necessary to tell white lies publicly to camouflage the truths about the realities.....”

As he lay down to sleep on the kingly-bed that very first night, Damocles also saw another sharp sword suspended similarly from above the ceiling (like the first and second ones he saw earlier). The sharp sword pointed downward right on his chest at the area of the heart. Apparently the thin old thread of wool by which the sword was hanged could give-in anytime causing the sword to drop and kill him. The night on the kingly-bed was sleepless nightmare.

Damocles' perception and expectation of happy experiences were absolutely dislocated.

Realizing the imminent dangers 'everywhere' and fearful for his life, Damocles  decided to back-out and ‘resigned’ as the first thing to do the next morning and returned to his normal life as the best ego-massager. Permission was granted.

Although life as court-flatterer was not so privileged and less fortunate, Damocles felt very much happier and safer to go back and serve in the  "Court of Flatterers" (or "Majlis Ampu-Mengampu" if translated literally into BM) . 

Note : Ref:  William J. Bennett’s “The Book of Virtues” with my expanded version.


 Comments

1.  It is a common perception or tendency to assume that a person is happy through
     appearances because of power, high positions, wealth and possessions.
2. The story depicts dangers and heavy responsibilities of a ruler in the arts of maintaining,
    strengthening and entrenching his position.
3. It was said: "The greatness of a man is measured NOT by what he does, BUT who and
    what he is." - Anon