Annette Clark, age 16, of Lowell, Mass., for her question

WHAT WAS THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES?

The sword of Damocles has become a byword for the threat of danger.

Damocles lived in the 4th century B.C. He was a member of the court of Dionysius the Elder, who was tyrant (absolute ruler) of the city of Syracuse in Sicily.

According to a legend recounted by the Roman writers Horace and Cicero, Damocles on one occasion commented to his sovereign on the grandeur and happiness of rulers.

Damocles was an excessive flatterer. Cicero tells us that Damocles once talked too much about the happiness and good fortune of Dionysius. Dionysius felt that it was absolutely necessary to teach Damocles a lesson.

Dionysius soon thereafter invited his courtier to a luxurious banquet, where Damocles enjoyed the delights of the table until his attention was directed upward and he saw a sharp sword hanging above him by a single horsehair.

By the device of the hanging sword, Dionysius made Damocles realize that insecurity might threaten those who appeared to be the most fortunate.