ΦΙΛΑΡΓΥΡΙΑ
Philargyria, a compound word signifying the "love of silver" or money, was recognized by ancient Greek philosophers as a serious moral flaw and later condemned by Christian writers as the "root of all evils." Its lexarithmos (1155) suggests a complex and multifaceted concept, often associated with covetousness and greed.
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According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, philargyria is defined as "love of silver, love of money, avarice." It is a compound noun derived from the verb "phileō" (to love, to desire) and the noun "argyros" (silver, money), denoting an intense attachment to material possessions and wealth. In classical Greek literature, philargyria is treated as a serious moral defect, often linked to covetousness and injustice.
Xenophon, in his "Cyropaedia" (8.2.22), states that "οὐδὲν γὰρ οὕτως ἀνθρώπους ἀναγκάζει φιλαργυρεῖν ὡς τὸ νομίζειν μὴ ἔχειν ἀρκοῦντα" (nothing so compels men to be avaricious as the belief that they do not have enough), highlighting the psychological dimension of greed stemming from a sense of inadequacy. Plato and Aristotle classify it among the passions that corrupt the soul and lead to immoral actions, as an excessive desire for money can undermine virtue and justice.
In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, as well as in the New Testament, the condemnation of philargyria becomes even more pronounced. The Apostle Paul characterizes it as "ῥίζα γὰρ πάντων τῶν κακῶν" (1 Timothy 6:10), elevating it to a fundamental cause of many other sins and moral deviations. Philargyria is not merely the love of money, but an obsessive attachment to it, which leads to exploitation, injustice, and a departure from spiritual values.
Etymology
The word family of philargyria develops around the concept of attachment to money. From the root "phil-" derive words such as "philos" and "philia," denoting love and friendly relations, while from the root "argyr-" come words such as "argyriōn" and "argyrokopos," referring to silver and its uses. The combination of these roots creates this specific moral vice, which is also expressed through derivatives such as the adjective "philargyros" and the verb "philargyreo."
Main Meanings
- Love of money, avarice — The primary and literal meaning, an intense desire for the acquisition and possession of money.
- Greed, covetousness — An insatiable desire for more material goods, beyond what is necessary or just.
- Stinginess, parsimony — The tendency to not spend money, even when necessary, due to attachment to it.
- Moral vice, passion — In classical philosophy, it is considered a perversion of character that leads to immoral actions.
- Sin, root of evils — In Christian theology, it is recognized as one of the most dangerous sins, a source of other evils.
- Materialism — A broader attachment to material possessions and worldly prosperity as the ultimate goal.
Word Family
phil- + argyr- (from the verb phileō and the noun argyros)
The root of philargyria is compound, deriving from two basic Ancient Greek roots: "phil-" which expresses love and attraction, and "argyr-" which refers to silver and by extension to money. This compound creates a field of words describing attachment to material possessions. Each member of the family highlights an aspect of this relationship, from simple affection to pathological greed and its consequences.
Philosophical Journey
The concept of philargyria, as a moral vice, traverses Greek thought from classical antiquity to the Christian era, gradually acquiring deeper ethical and theological dimensions.
In Ancient Texts
Two of the most characteristic passages referring to philargyria, highlighting its classical and Christian dimensions:
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΦΙΛΑΡΓΥΡΙΑ is 1155, from the sum of its letter values:
1155 decomposes into 1100 (hundreds) + 50 (tens) + 5 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΦΙΛΑΡΓΥΡΙΑ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 1155 | Base lexarithmos |
| Decade Numerology | 3 | 1+1+5+5 = 12 → 1+2 = 3 — Triad, a symbol of completeness and balance, in contrast to the imbalance brought by philargyria. |
| Letter Count | 10 | 10 letters — Decad, the number of perfection and completion, which philargyria distorts. |
| Cumulative | 5/50/1100 | Units 5 · Tens 50 · Hundreds 1100 |
| Odd/Even | Odd | Masculine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | Φ-Ι-Λ-Α-Ρ-Γ-Υ-Ρ-Ι-Α | An interpretive approach to the letters, which may suggest 'Phthartē Himeros Lypēs Archē Rizonēi Gnōmēn Hybristikēn Rhadiōs Ischyrān Adikian' (Perishable Desire, Root of Sorrow, Easily Establishes Arrogant Opinion, Strong Injustice). |
| Grammatical Groups | 5V · 3S · 2M | 5 vowels, 3 semivowels, 2 mutes. The harmony of sounds contrasts with the disharmony of the passion. |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Moon ☽ / Cancer ♋ | 1155 mod 7 = 0 · 1155 mod 12 = 3 |
Isopsephic Words (1155)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon with the same lexarithmos (1155) as philargyria, but of different roots, offering interesting comparisons:
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 74 words with lexarithmos 1155. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.
Sources & Bibliography
- Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed. with revised supplement. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996.
- Xenophon — Cyropaedia. Loeb Classical Library.
- Plato — Republic. Loeb Classical Library.
- Aristotle — Nicomachean Ethics. Loeb Classical Library.
- Nestle-Aland — Novum Testamentum Graece, 28th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012.
- Septuaginta — Rahlfs-Hanhart Edition. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2006.