Mythological Figures for Libertarianism and Capitalism

Miscellaneous History
1

Which mythological deities do you think would make a good symbol for libertarianism and/or capitalism?

I like TYKHE. She’s a goddess of prosperity, luck, and considered to govern the fate of a city. Her companion and sort of antithesis was Nemesis, who represents ‘fair distribution’, indignation and constantly checks the favors of prosperity she delivers. That would be your socialist.

Also, unlike Pluto, Tykhe represents actual prosperity and order; whereas Pluto basically represents money by any means.

TYKHE was the goddess or spirit of fortune, chance, providence and fate. She was usually honoured in a more favourable light as Eutykhia, goddess of good fortune, luck, success and prosperity.

Tykhe was represented with different attributes. Holding a rudder, she was conceived as the divinity guiding and conducting the affairs of the world, and in this respect she was called one of the Moirai (Fates); with a ball she represented the varying unsteadiness of fortune–unsteady and capable of rolling in any direction; with Ploutos or the horn of Amalthea, she was the symbol of the plentiful gifts of fortune.

Nemesis (Fair Distribution) was cautiously regarded as the downside of Tykhe, one who provided a check on extravagant favours conferred by fortune. The pair were often depicted as companions in Greek vase painting. In the vase (right) Nemesis (Indignation) with her arm around Tykhe (Fortune) points an accusing fingure at Helene, who Aphrodite has persuaded to elope with Paris.

TYKHE was the goddess or spirit of fortune, chance, providence and fate. She was usually honoured in a more favourable light as Eutykhia, goddess of good fortune, luck, success and prosperity.

Tykhe was represented with different attributes. Holding a rudder, she was conceived as the divinity guiding and conducting the affairs of the world, and in this respect she was called one of the Moirai (Fates); with a ball she represented the varying unsteadiness of fortune–unsteady and capable of rolling in any direction; with Ploutos or the horn of Amalthea, she was the symbol of the plentiful gifts of fortune.

Nemesis (Fair Distribution) was cautiously regarded as the downside of Tykhe, one who provided a check on extravagant favours conferred by fortune. The pair were often depicted as companions in Greek vase painting. In the vase (right) Nemesis (Indignation) with her arm around Tykhe (Fortune) points an accusing fingure at Helene, who Aphrodite has persuaded to elope with Paris.

TYKHE was the goddess or spirit of fortune, chance, providence and fate. She was usually honoured in a more favourable light as Eutykhia, goddess of good fortune, luck, success and prosperity.

Tykhe was represented with different attributes. Holding a rudder, she was conceived as the divinity guiding and conducting the affairs of the world, and in this respect she was called one of the Moirai (Fates); with a ball she represented the varying unsteadiness of fortune–unsteady and capable of rolling in any direction; with Ploutos or the horn of Amalthea, she was the symbol of the plentiful gifts of fortune.

Nemesis (Fair Distribution) was cautiously regarded as the downside of Tykhe, one who provided a check on extravagant favours conferred by fortune. The pair were often depicted as companions in Greek vase painting. In the vase (right) Nemesis (Indignation) with her arm around Tykhe (Fortune) points an accusing fingure at Helene, who Aphrodite has persuaded to elope with Paris.

2

Good choice - in my collection I have many ancient Phoenician coins with Tyche on them.

Prometheus is a kind of libertarian tragic hero, and is generally considered a friend to mankind (while Zeus hated mankind). He found a taxation loop-hole and thereby kept the valued products in the hands of their owners as well as showing that the ruler was not all-knowing and all-powerful. Embarassed and enraged, the ruler then put a prohibition on fire, which Prometheus returned to its owners. Because he undermined the tyrant, Prometheus was of course chained to a rock and constantly tortured by an eagle devouring his regenerating liver - in order to sustain itself, the predator must bind the prey in place and cut out one of its most valuable organs, while keeping the rest intact so that the prey can still exist to regrow said organ.

Of course there is Libertas and Eleutheria.

3

I like Tyche/Fortuna as well.

Opis is another option. Or perhaps Poros, the personification of abundance, who was seduced by Penia (poverty) while drunk. :stuck_out_tongue:

4

Speaking of; if tha whole planet stuff is true, why would you name a planet Tyche; it seems inconsistant with the naming scheme (it’s Greek for one, and a somwhat minor god for another).

I would also disagree with that name for a representitive as the Greeks viewed her as a rather chaotic and fickle entity. Hermes would probably be the best bet.

Also Hades wouldn’t be too bad, though perhaps a bit morbid; he is also “the unseen”, which makes sense, plus he is characterized as unwaveringly just, which could symbolize a type of adherence to some objective form of reality. No Greek ever really would have Hades as a patron God for anything, there really isn’t a precedent to use him.

5

Also Sinbad may be a good mythological hero to represent libertarianism