Via RSS 
Via Facebook 
Via Pinterest 
Via Twitter 
I came across this painting randomly the other day and it caught my eye right away. It’s one of those things that even at a glance you just know has a rich story behind it.
And if you take a closer look you’ll probably start wondering at what the story could be: ‘Why is that guy in the background holding a sword over the other guy’s head?’ and ‘Is he using magic or what?‘
Well…at least that’s what I wondered lol.
I looked it up and it turns out this painting is of a scene from an old parable called ‘The Sword Of Damocles’, although the ‘boys of outstanding beauty’ have been changed to girls in the painting.
Here is the story as related by Cicero:
Indeed this tyrant [Dionysius II of Syracuse] himself gave his judgment as to how fortunate he was. For when one of his flatterers, Damocles, mentioned in conversation the wealth of Dionysius, the majesty of his rule, the abundance of his possessions, the magnificence of the royal palace and denied that there had ever been anyone more fortunate, he said, ‘So, Damocles, since this life delights you, do you wish to taste it yourself and make trial of my fortune?’
When Damocles said that he desired this, Dionysius gave orders that the man be placed on a golden couch covered with a most beautiful woven rug, embroidered with splendid works; he adorned many sideboards with chased silver and gold; then he gave orders that chosen boys of outstanding beauty should stand by his table and that they, watching for a sign from Damocles, should attentively wait on him; there were unguents and garlands; perfumes were burning; tables were piled up with the most select foods. Damocles seemed to himself fortunate.
In the middle of this luxury Dionysius ordered that a shining sword, fastened from the ceiling by a single horse-hair, be let down so that it hung over the neck of that fortunate man. And so he looked neither at those handsome waiters nor the wonderful silver work, nor did he stretch his hand to the table. Now the very wreaths slipped off. Finally he begged the tyrant that he should be allowed to depart because he no longer wanted to be fortunate.
Awesome story, I think good alternate titles for this could have been: ‘Fortunate’ or ‘A Single Horsehair’. What do you think?
Via Email
http://simpsonsgifs.tumblr.com/page/4
Scroll down to the fifth image. I think this was one of the first references that I liked in the Simpson’s. Probably because it made the elitist in me feel smart for recognizing it. But mostly because it just makes Burns that less accessable to the masses for using it. I love Burnsie!
Hi Krudler,
Eggggsellent reference :). I always liked Burns’ hilariously outdated ways, like his jokes referencing ye olden days type stuff and things like wearing this baseball uniform that looks like it’s from the 1920′s or something:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcXWsibiiPk&feature=related
Hmm, is that why you like Burns so much…the olden talk lol?
But of course it is. This is one of my all time favourite lines – it’s got more good old timey talk in it than a dog has fleas.
http://thesimpsonsforever.tumblr.com/post/4002266150/young-man-i-need-to-send-this-missive-to-the
Ha, had to look up auto-gyro to get the definition.
Does this count as old timey talk if I’m typing it while wearing a monocle and a pointy mustache?
And to take this comment in yet another direction, when we have the time one of these days we should collaborate on an old timey talk insult generator a la http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/a1-shakespearean-insults-generator.htm
Oh, I am so in!
Awesome. Let me know when you’ve come up with some and I’ll set it up, I’d say ~10 would be the minimum good for a generator.
Ummmm… those don’t look like chosen “boys” of outstanding beauty surrounding his table awaiting his bidding. I guess the picture had been made to reflect more acceptable morals of the times.
Little do you know those are boys :D. Seriously though how was the painter going to work in sideboob with only boys of outstanding beauty to work with?
D’oh! That’ll teach me to skim read. I missed that bit that you wrote at the beginning about the “boys”. Sorry for repeating the obvious, Anita. :P
Krudler,
If it makes you feel any better, I wrote this post so long ago that I didn’t actually remember that I wrote about the boys being changed to girls until your last comment lol. Anyway, the internet is all about skim reading…it’s really just a matter of survival.