Not a passing phenomenon nor an external force, the companies had become a way of life, a part of society itself, used and joined by its rulers even as they struggled to throw them off. They ate at society from within like Erysichthon, the "tearer up of earth," who, having destroyed the trees in the sacred grove of Demeter, was cursed by the goddess with an insatiable appetite and finally devoured himself attempting to satisfy his hunger. Discipline
The companies described in Tuchman's "A Distant Mirror" have deeply integrated into society, functioning not just as economic entities but as essential components of social life. Although rulers attempted to resist these companies' influence, they found themselves intertwined with them, highlighting the complex relationship between power and commerce.
This dynamic mirrors the myth of Erysichthon, who, after decimating a sacred grove, was cursed with unending hunger that ultimately led to his demise. Similarly, the insatiable nature of these companies consumes society from within, illustrating how unchecked ambitions can lead to self-destruction.
