[Greek] συκοφαντέω (sykophanteō), [Latin] caluminiari: to make false charges, to slander, to accuse falsely, to inform, to extort someone, to be an informant, to cheat someone, to be a “fig revealer”; Lk.3:14, Lk.19:8
Sandro Botticelli’s illustgration of Dante’s Eighth Circle of Hell. The damned flatterers are immersed in excrement. Dante considered sycophancy worse than murder.
Background information:
Sycophant: This term literally means “fig revealer.” The Greek noun sykon means fig. The Greek verb phanien means to reveal. Folklore also suggests that sycophants would shake the tree to reveal the hidden figs. This was a term used in the legal system of Classical Athens. Due to the lack of public litigants, private litigants were often used to bring up questionable or false prosecutions and accusations. Figs were a very lucrative farming commodity. Oftentimes, fig farmers would try to avoid paying taxes when buying or selling figs. It was illegal to export figs from ancient Greece. So the informant (fig revealer) was someone who squealed on the illegal exporter. These fig farmers would often hire sycophants to spy on their competitors. Unscrupulous sycophants would often extort or falsely accuse competitors (for personal or financial gain).
Greek Hellenism: This term essentially means to inform, to falsely accuse, and to extort. Aristophanes’ Ecclesiazusae 562 states “Now will dare to do shameless deeds, to give false testimony or lay information.” Lysias’ On the Refusal of a Pension 24.1 states “So I will try to show you in my speech that this man is lying; for it is merely from envy, in my opinion, that he has involved me in this ordeal. Is it possible that he hopes to get money by slandering me? And if he hates me out of envy or when he seeks to be avenged, he lies; for his villainy has always kept me from having any dealings with him.” Aristophanes’ Birds 1431 states “So it seems, despite all your youthful vigor, you make it your trade to denounce strangers?” Aristophanes’ Acharnians 519 states “Some men, some wretches, lost in vices bereft of honor, who were not even citizens of standing, but strangers, have accused the Megarians of introducing their produce fraudulently.”
Old Testament: This term means to oppress, to defraud, to extort, to trick, to cheat, and to deal falsely. The Law states that two or three witnesses were needed in order to provide a valid accusation against another person. Deut.19:15 states that a valid charge shall stand only on the testimony of two or three witnesses. You shall not exploit your neighbors (Lev.19:13). You have neither cheated us, nor oppressed us, nor accepted anything from anyone (1Sam.12:4). Crushed, you shall not exult no more, virgin daughter of Sidon (Isa.23:12). Only the father, since he committed extortion and robbed his brother—he will die because of his sin (Exek.18:18). You shall not deceive or speak falsely to one another (Lev.19:11). So now, swear to me by God at this place, that you will not deal falsely with me or my progeny or posterity (Gen.21:23). Though we have not forgotten you, nor been disloyal to your covenant (Psa.44:17).
New Testament: This term, only found twice in Luke’s gospel, means to make false charges and to extort. Luke speaks on how the soldiers and the rich man should conduct themselves. The soldiers are not to extort and make false charges against each other. The rich man is instructed to give to the poor and not to extort others.
Scripture:
Soldiers also asked him, ‘And what is it that we should do?’ He told them, ‘Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” Lk.3:14
John the Baptist calls upon the soldiers to stop oppressing the civilians.
“But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted from anyone I shall repay it four times over.’”
Jesus calls upon Zacchaeus to not extort others but also to share his wealth.
Dante’s Inferno (9 Circles of Hell): Inferno is the Italian word for hell. This story begins with the narrator (who is the poet himself) being lost in a dark wood. He is rescued by the Roman poet Virgil. They began a journey into the underworld (Hell). The circles of Hell appear in the following order: limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. Dante places flatterers in a deeper hell than those who commit sins of tyranny, heresy, or even murder. The eighth circle of hell is further divided including panderers, seducers, flatterers, thieves, sowers of schism, falsifiers, and hypocrites. Dante’s punish for flattery is immersion in feces. According to Dante, fraud not only injures the person deceived; it also affects the larger community.
Conclusion
Sycophant, calumny
The ancient Greek poets introduced sycophant characters on the stage as figures of ridicule and disdain. These sycophants were presented as informers, litigators, accusers, extorters, and flatterers. Fig farmers often hired informers to spy and report on their competitors. (This really brings out the “sick” in sykophant.)
In the Old Testament, one person’s testimony was not legally valid to bring charges upon on another person. The Law stated that two or three persons’ testimony (evidence) was needed to press charges. Interestingly, Jesus uses this same expression “when two or three are gathered” to provide testimony that He is present among a group of people.
In the New Testament, this term is primarily used to illustrate oppressing or taking advantage of others. This leads to Jesus’ teachings of how to wisely use one’s wealth.
Calumny is the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation.
We are all aware of the many other terms similar to a sycophant. Politics and the work environment especially come to mind. Such examples include toady, flatterer, minion, yes-man(or woman), kiss-ass, flunky, suck-up, bootlicker, and brown-noser. (One could also say that their actions really stink!)
I don’t think you need to go Dante’s Eighth Circle of Hell to figure out why this brown color stinks!