Simon Magus

Simon Magus was a figure from 1st-century Samaria, often depicted in early Christian writings as a magician or sorcerer who claimed divine power. He sought to buy spiritual authority from the apostles, which led to the term "simony" (buying church favors). In Christian tradition, he symbolizes false teachings and heresy, representing those who distort spiritual truths for personal gain. Historically, some see him as a blend of myth and real figures, but he remains a symbol of deception and misuse of spiritual authority in religious history.