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The phrase sword of Damocles, also Damocles’ sword and Damocles’s sword, is used by simile of an imminent danger, which may at any moment descend upon one.

This phrase alludes to the story of Damocles, a flatterer, who having extolled the happiness of Dionysius, tyrant of ancient Syracuse, was placed by him at a banquet with a naked sword suspended over his head by a single hair, to impress upon him the perilous nature of that happiness.

The earliest occurrences that I have found of the phrase sword of Damocles, also Damocles’ sword and Damocles’s sword—and, more generally, the earliest metaphorical allusions to the story of Damocles—are as follows, in chronological order:

1-: From Vox vera: Or, Obseruations from Amsterdam. Examining the late Insolencies of some Pseudo-Puritans, Separatists from the Church of Great Brittaine (London: Printed by Bernard Alsop, 1625), by Patrick Scot [page 51]:

If a friendly interest might haue place, I could wish, that such of you as know the danger to which you are lyable, should appeale to a Pardon in mercie, by tendering your obedience to conformitie, whilest you haue time, and not to stand to a tryall in Iustice, when perhaps it will be too late for those Royall Offers and Remonstrances, so oft reiected, to yeeld to those Metaphysicall repining Spirits, who can discerne the face of the skie, but cannot discerne the difference of times, or their owne danger, when destruction like Damocles sword hangeth perpendiculer ouer their heads.

2 & 3-: From Ovid’s Invective or Curse against Ibis, Faithfully and familiarly Translated into English Verse. And the Histories therein contained, being in number two hundred and fifty (at the least) briefly explained, one by one; With Natural, Moral, Poetical, Political, Mathematical, and some few Theological Applications ([London]: Printed by J. G. for Ric. Davis in Oxon, 1658), by the Roman poet Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso – 43 BC–circa 17 AD) and “John Jones M.A. Teacher of a private School in the City of Hereford”:

2-: [page 32]:

What joy is it, with Damocles to enjoy all things, that may content all my senses, when the point of a naked sword lies at my throat, or which is far worse, a sting in my conscience? A good conscience is a continual feast, and a bad one a perpetual hell.

3-: [page 58]:

Tottering is that kingdome whose fate depends like Damocles sword upon an hair. Unless the supreme head of the Mystical body do govern the politick, the power of an arme of flesh is not worth an hair.

4-: From Coena quasi Koinh: The Common right to the Lords Supper asserted in a Diatribe & Defence thereof, Against the Apology of some Ministers and godly people (as their own mouth praiseth them) asserting the lawfulness of their administring the Lords Supper in a select company: As it was set forth by their Prolocutor Mr. Humphry Saunders (London: Printed by R. Norton for Richard Royston, 1660), by William Morice (1602-1676) [Section 26: Jeremy 15.19. Discussed and vindicated, page 621]:

Surely if Excommunication expect no other support, if it here find none, it hangs by as frail a thread as Dionysus his Sword over Damocles his head.

5-: From The Captive-Captain: Or, the Restrain’d Cavalier (London: Printed by J. Grismond, 1665), by Richard Brathwaite (circa 1588-1673) [Two Choice Characters Suitable to these Times: 2. A State-Competitor, [page 83]:

Now for that undermining danger, whereto (as we formerly toucht) they are most incident; they appear commonly nearest to it, when they hold themselves most distanc’d from it. Though Damocles Sword hang over his head by an hair; the sweetness of Soveraignty deludes him with the britle promise of Security.

6-: From A Præfatory Discourse to a late Pamphlet, Entituled, A Memento for English Protestants, &c. Being An Answer to that Part of the Compendium, which reflects upon the Bishop of Lincoln’s Book (London: Printed by Tho. Dawks, for the Author, 1681) [The Preface: page 12]:

The Monarchy has by the Reformation gotten a greater Security than it had before, both for the King’s Person, and his Crowne; those Hellish Papal Doctrines, which I have been hitherto discoursing off, did, in times of Popery, perpetually hang over their Heads, like Damocles’s Sword, ready to doe Execution upon the least irregular Motion, and they were neither of them any longer safe than the Pope pleas’d.