Tyrants are not born. They are made. Anybody can become one. Give a man or woman power, and they will do their damnedest to prove gender equality.
My wife sent me this morning a link to an article about a gruesome discovery of 80 ancient bodies that were uncovered near Athens, Greece. The 2,700 years old skeletons may have been followers of Cylon, a would-be tyrant who attempted to take over Athens in the 7th century B.C.
Athenians defeated the putsch, forcing Cylon and his party to seek refuge on the Acropolis. The conspirators eventually surrendered after being guaranteed their lives. However, Megacles the Alcmaeonid, ordered their execution, which was condemned as sacrilegious by the authorities.
Personally, I don’t believe in violence because it’s the refuge of the incompetent. But I can see why Megacles did that. His ulterior motives notwithstanding, the execution was meant as a reminder of the risks people run when they elect a tyrant or when they do not stand against one in the making.
What would Cylon have done had he won the day? He would have imprisoned and murdered all opposition.
My point is straightforward. Tyranny is Evil because it seeks to replace a more democratic system with the rule of One, which is the quintessence of Immorality.
The great Roman politician Cicero tells the story of the tyrant Dionysius II of Syracuse and his courtier Damocles. It is said that the latter remarked with envy how rich and fortunate, and content Dionysius was. To this the tyrant remarked:
So, Damocles, since this life delights you, do you wish to taste it yourself and make trial of my fortune?
Tusculan disputation 5.61, Cicero.
He proceeded to order that Damocles be placed on a golden couch, adorned with silver and gold, and surrounded with boys of outstanding beauty; unguents and garlands, perfumes were burning; and tables were piled with select foods.
Damocles seemed to himself fortunate.
Dionysius then ordered a shining sword be fastened from the ceiling by a horse-hair, straight above the neck of the fortunate Damocles. And so the man ended up looking neither at the handsome waiters or beautiful apparel or silver work about him, nor did he stretch his hand toward the table.
He finally begged the tyrant to be allowed to depart because he no longer wanted to be fortunate.
That’s what tyranny looks and feels like both literally and figuratively. The tyrant himself runs the risks of being deposed and killed. And life under the rule of a tyrant is equally bitter, unrewarding, and unfortunate.
The Sword of Damocles
The Pit and the Pendulum 1991 movie appropriated this story, assigning it to Torquemada, the Great Inquisitor of Spain. In it, this deranged monk takes to sleeping on a bed above which a heavy sword is suspended. The abject object is fastened to the ceiling by a narrow thread. When asked why he would take voluntarily to such a torture, Torquemada’s character responds: Deus Vult. If God wills it, He will allow me to live. If not…
Dionysius II of Syracuse was a tyrant, and a smart one at that. Torquemada was insane.
Tyranny is unhealthy for everyone. As you can see. QED. This is my point.
Götterdämmerung 