How Did Damocles Die?

Damocles, before his death According to legend, he was the revered leader of a vast Roman army. However, during a massive battle, his cowardly commanders abandoned him. Damocles was slain with a spear. Nemesis, the deity of revenge, was enraged at how he had been treated despite his bravery.

Who were Dionysius Damocles?

The way Cicero tells it, Damocles was the name of a sycophant (adsentator in Latin), one of the several yes-men in the court of Dionysius, a 4th century BC tyrant. Dionysius ruled Syracuse, a city in Magna Graecia, the Greek area of southern Italy.

Who sat under a sword suspended by a hair?

Damocles couldn't believe his luck, but just as he was starting to enjoy the life of a king, he noticed that Dionysius had also hung a razor-sharp sword from the ceiling. It was positioned over Damocles' head, suspended only by a single strand of horsehair.