The Greek meaning behind the name of Elon Musk’s new baby appears to preview the Department of Government Efficiency director’s plans for a militant, bare-bones U.S. government.
Neuralink exec Shivon Zilis announced Friday on X that she has welcomed her fourth child with the billionaire, a son named Seldon Lycurgus, who is Musk’s 14th known child.
Zilis said she “discussed with Elon” and made the announcement in celebration of youngest daughter Arcadia’s birthday. Musk seemed to confirm this with a heart emoji under the post.
“In light of beautiful Arcadia’s birthday, we felt it was better to also just share directly about our wonderful and incredible son Seldon Lycurgus,” she wrote, adding, “Built like a juggernaut, with a solid heart of gold. Love him so much.”
The name Seldon may be in reference to the fictional Hari Seldon of biochemist and novelist Isaac Asimov’s science-fiction Foundation book series. Seldon is hailed as a mathematician and visionary who developed “psychohistory,” which is used to predict and shape the future of civilization, The Economic Times reported. The Apple TV+ drama Foundation is based on the books.
Lycurgus references a legendary Greek lawmaker of the same name who is considered the architect of Sparta’s military-oriented lifestyle and social rule that has lent its name to the phrase “spartan living.”
Lycurgus is believed to have radically reshaped Sparta’s military, social, and economic systems to put an emphasis on discipline and endurance, writes Kaylynne Hoeppner in a preview of the 2024 book Lycurgus of Sparta: The Life, Vision, and Legacy of the Legendary Lawgiver.
Moreover, Lycurgus is said to have hailed procreation as a social duty and championed early eugenics beliefs.
“He believed motherhood to be the most important function of freeborn women,” wrote Greek historian Xenophon in the Constitution of the Lacedaemonians. “Therefore, in the first place, he insisted on physical training for the female no less than for the male sex: moreover, he instituted races and trials of strength for women competitors as for men, believing that if both parents are strong they produce more vigorous offspring.”
Although there appears to be some debate on whether Lycurgus was a real person or a mythical figure, his philosophy seems to dovetail with DOGE’s ongoing war on government “waste.” Musk and his mother, Maye, have also jointly called for procreation to be a societal priority above all—even if affording children may be a problem.
According to academic research around Lycurgus, he became an idolized figure in Nazi propaganda for his militant reforms, and familial views that have been interpreted as eugenic.
