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Damocles |
Also found in: Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.03 sec. |
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Damocles (dăm`əklēz), in classical mythology, courtier at the court of Dionysius I. He so persistently praised the power and happiness of Dionysius that the tyrant, in order to show the precariousness of rank and power, gave a banquet and had a sword suspended above the head of Damocles by a single hair. Hence the expression "the sword of Damocles" to mean an ever-present peril. Damocles(flourished 4th century BC) Member of the court of Dionysius I the Elder at Syracuse in Sicily. Legend holds that when Damocles spoke in extravagant terms of Dionysius's happiness, the sovereign responded by inviting Damocles to a banquet and seating him beneath a sword suspended by a thread, thereby demonstrating the precarious fortunes of people who hold power. Damocles for his sycophancy to Dionysus, seated under sword at banquet. [Gk. Myth.: LLEI, I: 278] See : Flattery Damocles, sword of sword hung by a single hair over his head. [Rom. Lit.: Brewer Handbook, 257] See : Sword How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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I think it's pretty clear the Foreign Office used the Official Secrets Act to suppress this evidence, by hanging it like a Sword of Damacles [sic] over Mr. But despite the obstacles, shows continue to be churned out at Pyramid/Prodigy: the turn-of-the-century family drama Beaver Creek (just think of an overly earnest CBC series) and the cash-cow action/adventure series Sword of Damacles (yes, one of those many rip-offs of Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules or Sinbad). |
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