Corban Hooper Guest Post: The Legend of Damocles

According to Legend, Damocles was a Roman General who led his army against the Germainic Barbarians. He called for a charge and led his army forward. But as he reached the Barbarian lines, he realized he had been abandoned by his centurions and his army. Alone, he was quickly sla

By Your Bro · · Self Improvement

Corban Hooper Guest Post: The Legend of Damocles
According to Legend, Damocles was a Roman General who led his army against the Germainic Barbarians. He called for a charge and led his army forward. But as he reached the Barbarian lines, he realized he had been abandoned by his centurions and his army. Alone, he was quickly slain by the barbarians.

Key Takeaways

  • Failing to fulfill masculine duties creates a psychological state of impending doom known as the Sword of Damocles.
  • Loyalty to family and workplace responsibilities is the primary defense against a guilty conscience.
  • Men must lead in their homes and communities to maintain personal integrity and honor.
  • Neglecting duty leads to a symbolic fate worse than death through the loss of respect and internal peace.
After arriving in the Underworld, the goddess of death was so enraged at what had befallen the general that she sent him back to the land of the living as a Centurion, clad all in black, wielding a flaming sword. He hunted down and killed every General, centurion, and legionaire that had abandoned him. These endured a fate worse than death: The Sword of Damocles. A euphemism for "impending doom". This is a doom that we all have felt at one time or another.

What is the moral significance of the Sword of Damocles for men?

The moral significance lies in the weight of personal responsibility and the consequences of neglecting one's station. It serves as a reminder that avoiding duty results in a persistent sense of dread and moral failure. Fulfilling these obligations is required to maintain a clear conscience and social order. Think about that time you cut corners at work. Or when you should have spent time with your children but instead you stayed on the couch. Or the time you rejected your wife's advances because you were playing video games. If you have a conscience, that failure bothers you for days afterward. Because you neglected your duty. If you are a husband, you have a duty to your wife. To love her, support her, satisfy her. If you are a father, you must care for your children and love them. And when you work, you are to do your best, not as a slave, but as a man. A hardworking man who knows his duty. It is a privilege to work, but also a duty to provide for your family. As men, we are to lead in our homes, our communities, and the workplace. We are to fulfill our duties, accomplish our tasks and missions, to show ourselves as men. So fulfill your duties brothers. Be loyal. Do what is right and good. Because if you don't, you just might awaken tonight to see a centurion, clad in black mail, his sword raised high, and the shadows of hell about him.  - Corban Hooper

—Your Bro