Sword of Damocles is an allusion to a legend of Greek origin, wherein the ruler Dionysius II allows his courtier, Damocles, to experience life as a king for a day. Damocles enjoys a great banquet being waited upon by servants, only at the end noticing a sharp sword had been hanging by a single hair above his head the whole while. "Sword of Damocles" has since become a term to describe an imminent threat or danger, particularly one likely to be brought about by chance or a relatively minor event.