Damocles (Greek: Δαμοκλῆς, "fame of the people") was a legendary
courtier during the reign of the 4th century B.C. tyrant
Dionysius II of Syracuse, who offered to change places with the
king for a day, only to discover that with unbridled luxury and
rule comes the threat of imminent death. The evidence for
Damocles - if indeed he may have lived at all - comes from the
Roman politician and philosopher Cicero. In his Tusculan
disputations he wrote that Dionysius was surrounded by
flatterers, and during a banquet one of them, Damocles, stated
that he was impressed with the extravagance and the
magnificence, and impressed upon all that no one else could have
been as fortunate. Dionysius then asks a pointed question: -
"'So, Damocles, since this life delights you, do you wish to
taste it yourself and make trial of my fortune?" Eagerly,
Damocles accepts the offer and is made king for a day. According
to Cicero, Dionysius gave orders that - "the man be placed on a
golden couch covered with a most beautiful woven rug