The god of this world. The word in Syriac means riches. (See
Milton: Paradise Lost, bk. i. 678.) His speech in the council is
book ii. 229, etc.
Mammon.
In Spenser's Faërie Queene, Mammon says if Sir Guyon will
serve him he shall be the richest man in the world; but the knight says
money has no charm for him. Mammon then takes him to his smithy, and
tells him he may make what orders he likes, but Guyon declines to make
any. The god then offers to give him Philotine to wife, but Guyon will
not accept the honour. Lastly, he takes him to Proserpine's bower, and
tells him to pluck the golden fruit, and rest on the silver stool; Sir
Guyon again refuses, and after three days' sojourn in the infernal
regions is led back to earth. (ii. 7.)
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
