20个著名的历史典故(20个名人故事，你必须知道)

1. The Sword of Damocles

According to the story, Damocles, a courtier of the tyrant king Dionysius of Syracuse, expressed admiration for the king's luxurious and powerful position. Dionysius offered Damocles the throne for a day, but hung a sword above the throne with a single hair from a horse's tail as a reminder of the dangers and anxieties that come with great power and responsibility.

2. Crossing the Rubicon

In 49 BC, Julius Caesar famously crossed the Rubicon River with his army, defying the orders of the Roman Senate not to bring his army into Italy. This act started a civil war, which ended with Caesar becoming the dictator of Rome.

3. King Midas and the Golden Touch

In Greek mythology, King Midas wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. Initially excited about his new power, Midas soon discovered that it was a curse as even his food and daughter turned to gold. He begged for the power to be taken away and learned a valuable lesson about greed.

4. Catch-22

This phrase was popularized by Joseph Heller's book of the same name, which tells the story of a bombardier in World War II who is trapped in a paradoxical situation where he can't get out of flying missions because it would prove his sanity, but flying missions is making him insane.

5. The Emperor's New Clothes

A tale by Hans Christian Andersen about an emperor who is fooled by swindlers into thinking that their invisible cloth is magical and only visible to intelligent people. The emperor realizes he has been tricked but is afraid to admit it publicly, so he goes along with the deception until a young child points out the truth, embarrassing him.

6. The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting depicts Jesus and his disciples at their final meal before his arrest and crucifixion. During the meal, Jesus predicts that one of his disciples will betray him, and Judas Iscariot is shown holding a bag of coins as a symbol of his betrayal.

7. The Trojan Horse

In Greek mythology, the Greeks end the ten-year Trojan War by constructing a giant wooden horse filled with soldiers and leaving it outside the city of Troy. The Trojans take the horse as a peace offering and bring it inside the city walls, allowing the Greek soldiers to sneak out at night and defeat the city.

8. The Three Little Pigs

A classic fairy tale about three pigs who build houses out of straw, sticks, and bricks respectively. When a wolf comes to blow down their houses and eat them, only the pig with the brick house is able to withstand the attack and save his brothers. The story teaches the importance of hard work and planning.

9. The Ides of March

On March 15th, 44 BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of senators who feared his increasing power as a dictator in Rome. The assassination was famously foretold by a soothsayer who warned Caesar to "beware the Ides of March."

10. The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Aesop's fable about a boy who repeatedly cries "wolf" to trick the villagers into thinking there is danger when there isn't. When a real wolf appears and the boy cries for help, no one believes him and the wolf attacks the sheep.

11. The Pyramids of Egypt

The ancient Egyptians built massive pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs and their consorts. These structures still stand today as one of the most famous and impressive feats of engineering in history.

12. The Declaration of Independence

A document written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 declaring the thirteen American colonies independent from British rule. This document is a founding principle of American democracy and freedom.

13. The Shot Heard 'Round the World

The first shot fired in the American Revolutionary War at the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. This event signaled the start of a long and bloody conflict between the American colonies and Great Britain.

14. The Great Wall of China

One of the most massive and ancient constructions in world history, the Great Wall of China was built over centuries to defend China's borders from invaders. Today, it remains a significant symbol of China's cultural and historical identity.

15. The Boston Tea Party

A political protest by American colonists where they disguised themselves as Native Americans and destroyed British tea that was being taxed without their consent. This event helped spark the American Revolution.

16. The Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci's portrait of a woman, whose identity is still unknown, is widely regarded as one of the most famous paintings in the world. The enigmatic smile and unique style of brushwork make it a masterpiece of the Renaissance era.

17. The Industrial Revolution

A period of rapid industrialization that started in the 18th century and lasted until the early 19th century. This time marked significant advancements in manufacturing, communication, transportation, and other technologies that changed the face of the world.

18. The Battle of Waterloo

A significant conflict during the Napoleonic Wars where the British and their allies defeated Napoleon Bonaparte's French army on June 18, 1815. This event marked the end of Napoleon's reign and had a profound impact on European history.

19. The Emancipation Proclamation

A document issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 declaring that all slaves in Confederate-controlled territory were to be freed. This document helped bring an end to slavery in the United States and is a defining moment in the nation's history.

20. The Fall of the Berlin Wall

A symbol of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the Berlin Wall separated East and West Berlin from 1961 until its fall on November 9, 1989. The event marked the reunification of Germany and the end of the Cold War.