Hey everyone, welcome to Mythology Explained. In today’s video, we’re going to discuss Mammon,
a demon Lord and the demon who rules over the deadly sin of greed.
We'll start with his portrayal in John Milton's epic poem, 'Paradise Lost', before transitioning
into an exploration of the historical and linguistic origins of the term 'Mammon'
in the Biblical canon. We'll investigate how this term evolved from abstraction to personification,
from a word denoting greed into a demonic entity, tracing this development from its Aramaic roots,
then to Greek, Latin, and English. Following this, we'll examine the teachings on Mammon in the New
Testament, specifically the Gospel of Matthew, illuminating how this term was initially used.
Finally, we'll delve into notable historical texts that link Mammon to the seven deadly sins,
showing him to be the deadly demon who presides over the deadly sin of Greed.
Alright, let’s get into it. "Paradise Lost' is an epic poem by John Milton,
first published in 1667. This monumental work of literature is hailed as one of the greatest in
the English language and is considered one of the crown jewels of the Western canon. It reimagines
the Biblical story of humanity's fall, portraying the rebellion of Satan and his cohort of fallen
angels, their banishment from Heaven, and their subsequent schemes to corrupt and ruin mankind.
Through its exploration of profound themes such as free will, temptation, the nature of evil,
and the consequences of defying the divine, 'Paradise Lost' delves into the complexities
of human existence, the nature of God, and the eternal battle between good and evil.
Milton's poetic genius paints a vivid picture of the sublime celestial realms,
the desolate depths of Hell, the untouched beauty of Eden, and the catastrophic consequences of
human transgression. The grandeur of his verse, its rich symbolism, and vivid imagery lend depth
to the narrative and its underlying themes. In 'Paradise Lost', Mammon is portrayed as one
of the fallen angels who rebelled alongside Satan. He personifies the sin of greed,
symbolizing an insatiable yearning for material wealth. Milton describes Mammon as "the least
erected spirit that fell from heaven,” connoting that his gaze and thoughts are directed earthward,
preoccupied with material wealth. This focus aligns with a New Testament passage,
explored later in the video, asserting that one cannot devote themselves simultaneously to the
worship of God and the pursuit of wealth. Thus, by fixating on earthly riches, Mammon
neglects the divine realm above, highlighting the mutually exclusive nature of God and greed.
Within the fallen angel's assembly in Hell - this following their banishment from heaven - Mammon
proposes a pragmatic approach: rather than continuing their fruitless war against God,
they should aim to build their own kingdom free from divine control. This stance differs from
Satan's ceaseless ambition to wage war against Heaven, emphasizing the diverse
ways in which defiance against God can manifest. Redirecting our focus from seminal literary works
to biblical canon, the word "mammon", while it does not appear in the Old Testament, is featured
in the New Testament, included, in fact, since it was first written in the first century AD.
The New Testament, when it was originally composed, was primarily written in Koine
Greek. This language, a widely spoken dialect from the 4th century BC to the 4th century AD,
was a linguistic bridge across various ethnic and cultural populations within
the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. The New Testament's composition in
this prevalent dialect notably contributed to the dissemination and receptiveness of
Christian teachings across these diverse regions. Koine Greek was made widespread by the conquests
of Alexander the Great and the subsequent Hellenistic period. It is called "Koine",
meaning "common," to differentiate it from other forms of Greek used before and after this period.
The word "mamōnas" appears in the original Greek text of the New Testament,
specifically in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. In these passages, it is used to express material
wealth or worldly riches in the context of condemning and warning against the spiritual
dangers of greed - how one cannot be both godly and greedy, meaning the righteousness of virtue
and the corruption of vice cannot coincide. "The Greek "mamōnas" was derived from the Aramaic
antecedent, 'māmōnā', which was commonly used to denote wealth or material possessions. Later,
"mamōnas" was transliterated into Latin as "mammona" in the Latin Vulgate, the authoritative
Latin translation of the Bible made by Saint Jerome in the 4th century. Latin, being the
language of scholarship and liturgy in Western Europe during the Middle Ages, significantly
influenced the development of many modern European languages, including English. Thus, "mammona" was
adopted into Middle English as "Mammon," used in the Middle Ages to refer to wealth or greed,
eventually personified as a demonic entity in literary, occult, and theological works.
"Mammon" maintained its form and meaning into modern English and is still used today
in contemporary English versions of the bible. Now that we understand where the word “mammon”
comes from, we’re going to delve into a New Testament passage - specifically, a passage from
the Gospel of Matthew - that features it. This will shed light on how the word was originally
used, which, as said, was to denote material wealth or worldly riches. With that done, we’ll
then see how the concept of 'Mammon' evolved over centuries of theological and cultural discourse.
The Gospel of Matthew is one of the four canonical Gospels in the New Testament of
the Christian Bible - traditionally attributed to the apostle Matthew, a former tax collector who
became one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. It presents a detailed account of the life,
teachings, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes Jesus' role as
the long-awaited Messiah and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The Gospel highlights
Jesus' teachings on moral and ethical principles, including the Sermon on the Mount, the parables,
and his interactions with various individuals. It also addresses important theological
themes such as the kingdom of God, faith, forgiveness, and the mission of the disciples.
Matthew 6:24 reads: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other,
or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon."
This passage, spoken by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount, is a proclamation against materialism
and the worship of wealth. The passage presents a binary choice between serving God or serving
wealth, suggesting that devotion to material possessions diverts and distracts from serving
God. This passage and others like it are the foundation for why, in time,
Mammon became personified as a demon. This conceptual shift largely occurred
during the Middle Ages, influenced by interpretations of Biblical texts and the
desire to codify and personify sinful behaviors. The Bible does not offer an extensive, detailed
doctrine of demons. While there are mentions of demons and demonic possession in the New
Testament, specifically in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and the Book of Acts,
these do not elaborate significantly on their nature, hierarchy, or functions.
In the Old Testament, references to demonic entities are even scarcer.
During the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, theologians, church authorities,
and lay writers began to compile grimoires, conduct exorcisms, and prosecute witch trials.
These activities generated a substantial body of extra-biblical lore about demons, which included
the classification of demons, attributing to them specific sins, abilities, and responsibilities.
Two key examples of this phenomenon include the "Lanterne of Light," a 14th-century text that
associates seven demons with the seven deadly sins, and the 16th-century work
of Peter Binsfeld, who also classifies demons based on the seven deadly sins.
We will now examine both of these works in greater detail.
"The Lanterne of Light" is an anonymous treatise dating from the late Middle Ages, specifically
the 15th century. It is noted for being one of the first texts to propose a systematic classification
of demons and their associated sins, highlighting a list of seven demons, each one linked to one
of the seven deadly sins, with Mammon being the demon associated with the sin of greed.
According to ‘The Lanterne of Light’, the seven deadly demons of the seven deadly
sins are as follows: Lucifer: Pride
Beelzebub: Envy Satan: Wrath
Abaddon: Sloth Mammon: Greed
Belphegor: Gluttony Asmodeus: Lust
Binsfeld's classification is another system that links seven demons to the seven deadly sins,
proposed by the German bishop and theologian Peter Binsfeld in the late 16th century.
This classification system is considered an elaboration upon the ideas presented in "The
Lanterne of Light". In Binsfeld's classification, Mammon again is associated with the sin of greed.
Interestingly, though, Binsfeld’s own configuration differs from that given in
the Lanterne of Light, matching different deadly demons to different deadly sins.
According to Bindsfeld’s classification, the seven deadly demons of the seven deadly sins
are as follows: Lucifer: Pride
Leviathan: Envy Satan: Wrath
Belphegor: Sloth Mammon: Greed
Beelzebub: Gluttony Asmodeus: Lust
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