This rich banquet scene by the Dutch artist Cornelis Troost (c. 1697 –1750) contains a subtle but deadly secret. If one looks closely at the space just above the banqueters, a sword can be seen precariously dangling from a thin cord. If the knot loosened or if the cord broke, the exposed blade would plunge down and skewer the guest seated below.
Troost’s painting brings to life the ancient tale of the Sword of Damocles, or rather the sword that the Syracusan tyrant, Dionysius (r. 405-367), used to demonstrate the state of mind of a ruler. As the story goes, Damocles was an overly talkative sycophant who annoyed Dionysius with exaggerated praise about how great the tyrant’s life must be, given his riches, power, and prestigious status. Dionysius, wanting to correct his courtier’s skewed view of authority, set up a dramatic psychological experiment. The tyrant hosted a banquet, decorating the hall with his greatest treasures, and he had his most beautiful servants serve the best food and drink available in the realm. Yet, above all the excess and glamor, Dionysius suspended a dangerous sword, and he hung the blade right over Damocles’ head. This Sword of Damocles experiment, and Damocles’ reaction, was recorded by the Roman statesman, Cicero, who wrote:
“This tyrant [Dionysius], however, showed himself how happy he really was; for once, when Damocles, one of his flatterers, was dilating in conversation on his forces, his wealth, the greatness of his power, the plenty he enjoyed, the grandeur of his royal palaces, and maintaining that no one was ever happier, ‘Have you an inclination,’ said he, ‘Damocles, as this kind of life pleases you, to have a taste of it yourself, and to make a trial of the good fortune that attends me?’ And when he said that he should like it extremely, Dionysius ordered him to be laid on a bed of gold with the most beautiful covering, embroidered and wrought with the most exquisite work, and he dressed out a great many sideboards with silver and embossed gold. He then ordered some youths, distinguished for their handsome persons, to wait at his table, and to observe his nod, in order to serve him with what he wanted. There were ointments and garlands; perfumes were burned; tables provided with the most exquisite meats. Damocles thought himself very happy. In the midst of this apparatus, Dionysius ordered a bright sword to be let down from the ceiling, suspended by a single horse-hair, so as to hang over the head of that happy man. After which he neither cast his eye on those handsome waiters, nor on the well-wrought plate; nor touched any of the provisions: presently the garlands fell to pieces. At last he entreated the tyrant to give him leave to go, for that now he had no desire to be happy” (Cicero, Tusculum Disputations, 5.21).
Through this legendary psychological experiment, Dionysius proved that the various threats faced by a ruler—the sword above their heads—dramatically dull the enjoyment of the trappings of power. Cornelis Troost, in his re-creation of this Sword of Damocles tale, likely portrays the early moments of the banquet, before Damocles discovered the blade hanging above his head. Damocles, ignorant of the peril hanging over him, can be seen happily enjoying the party while his fate is determined by the strength of a horse’s hair.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Sources:
- Tusculanae Quaestiones (Tusculum Disputations), translated by C. D. Yonge (c. 1812-1891), republished in Complete Works of Cicero (JollyJoy Books Pvt Ltd, 2024).
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Damocles
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dionysius-I
- https://sammlungenonline.albertina.at/objects/32281/damokles-an-der-tafel-des-tyrannen-dionys-von-syrakus
- https://www.europeana.eu/en/item/15508/17397
Isn’t Damocles supposed to have a sword hanging ominously above him?
It is stealthily placed in the incense smoke. You can see it if you zoom in.