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Greek Myth Comix @greekmythcomix.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

COMIC: What is a sycophant? Featuring Tacitus 3.65 and a certain US AG.

Originally Ancient Greek for the worst kind of salacious informant.

It now means a human parasite, speaking falsely and insincerely in the accusation or the flattery for gain, but retains that original falseness.

original etymology of the word (sykos/συκος 'fig', and phanēs/φανης 'to show'; 'revealer of figs'), συκοφάντης (sykophántēs), possibly to be due to laws about exporting figs and taxes on doing so: those who accused others of illegally exporting figs without paying taxes were therefore called sycophants. It was a term intended to disparage unjustified accusers who were attempting to pervert the legal system.

Emperor Tiberius (2nd emperor, Julio Claudian) despite Tacitus telling us he was so tyrannical that he had “dislike of public freedom”, was so appalled by the sycophantic behaviour of the Senate (having been reduced in status by the previous and first emperor Augustus) vying to make the most slanderous accusations for his benefit, is reported to have said in disgust “Oh, How ready these men are to be slaves.”