The Mammonist: Ponce De Leon

(written on January 10, 2020)

Ponce de Leon was a Spanish conquistador, or an explorer, who was most famous for discovering Florida. Although many other explorers have reasons such as spices, or gold, or other riches, according to legend, Ponce de Leon was looking for something that was worth even more. He was looking for the Fountain of Youth. The Fountain of Youth is a mythological spring that supposedly reinstates the youth of anyone who bathes in its waters. There are various tales which discussed the glory of the Fountain of Youth, and it is said that Ponce de Leon was told by the Native Americans that if he went to Bimini (which is a place somewhere in the vicinity of Florida) he would find the Fountain of Youth. This is how Ponce de Leon discovered Florida and was hence added to the history books.

Ponce de Leon was an example of a mammonist because all of his hard work and efforts were put in because he wanted to find the fountain and was obviously attached to finding it and restoring his youth. Mammonists are people who are devoted to pursuing wealth. Their formula for life is work hard, sense gratification, repeat.