Mammon

Mammon is a term used to describe wealth or the personification of riches. In Christian theology, Mammon is often treated as a false god or rival master, a symbol of greed and materialism that can compete with devotion to God. The concept has permeated wider culture as a shorthand for the corrupting power of money and the social harms linked to wealth concentration.

Etymology and biblical usage: The name derives from the Aramaic mamôn, meaning wealth, profit, or something entrusted. In the Greek New Testament the term is transliterated as Mamōn; in Latin and later translations it remains Mammon. The most famous biblical reference is Luke 16:13, where Jesus says, You cannot serve God and Mammon, signaling that wealth should not be one’s ultimate master.

In culture and literature: The figure has appeared as a personification of wealth in various works. In John Milton's Paradise Lost, a demon named Mammon embodies greed and the seductive lure of riches. The term also appears in poetry and literary criticism as a symbol of materialism and economic power that can override ethical concerns. In modern usage, Mammon is commonly invoked to critique capitalism, consumerism, and economic inequality, serving as a rhetorical shorthand for wealth-driven values that conflict with spiritual or communal priorities.