Capitalism: The Minotaur or Kirtimukha?

The book Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism by Yanis Varoufakis got me into thinking about the Minotaur, but at the same time I couldn’t help but think about Kirtimukha. I decided to write a piece comparing the two myths and how they relate to capitalism.

Capitalism: A Labyrinthine Monster or an Eternal Hunger?

Throughout history, economic systems have been compared to great forces of nature, war machines, or living organisms. But if we turn to mythology, two figures stand out as powerful metaphors for modern capitalism: the Minotaur, a monster lurking in an inescapable labyrinth, and Kirtimukha, a self-consuming face that never disappears.

Which of these best represents capitalism today?

The Minotaur: A System That Can Be Overcome

The Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull creature, is trapped inside a labyrinth designed by Daedalus. Every year, young Athenians are sacrificed to it, sustaining its existence. This aligns with a view of capitalism as a system that traps people in cycles of labor, debt, and consumption—feeding on human effort to sustain itself.

But the Minotaur is not immortal. Theseus slays the beast and escapes the labyrinth with the help of Ariadne’s thread, suggesting that capitalism, too, could be defeated or escaped—if people find the right path out.

If capitalism is the Minotaur, then the message is one of resistance and eventual triumph: the system, however monstrous, is not eternal.

Kirtimukha: A System That Becomes Sacred

Kirtimukha, on the other hand, is a different kind of monster. Created by Shiva’s wrath, it is so consumed by hunger that it starts eating itself. But instead of perishing, it becomes an eternal symbol—its face is now placed above Hindu temples, warding off evil.

If capitalism is like Kirtimukha, then it is a system that feeds on itself—crises, recessions, and failures only fuel its reinvention. It does not collapse but instead becomes an unquestioned part of the world, something we both fear and respect.

Unlike the Minotaur, Kirtimukha is never slain. Instead, it is integrated into the structure of society, becoming a sacred and unchallenged presence.

Which Metaphor Fits Capitalism Best?

Both myths highlight different truths about capitalism:

• If capitalism is the Minotaur, then it is a monstrous system that traps people—but one that can be defeated with the right tools.
• If capitalism is Kirtimukha, then it is a self-consuming force that can never be destroyed, only adapted to.

Perhaps capitalism started as the Minotaur—something people feared and wanted to overcome—but has evolved into Kirtimukha, a force so ingrained in the world that it is now seen as a permanent and even necessary structure.

The real question is: Are we still trying to escape the labyrinth, or have we already started worshipping the monster above the temple doors?

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