Greek Name
Μωμος
Transliteration
Mômos, Momus
Roman Name
Querella
Translation
Mockery, Blame
MOMOS (Momus) was the god or personified spirit (daimon) of mockery, blame, ridicule, scorn, complaint and harsh criticism. He was expelled by Zeus from heaven for ridiculing the gods. Momos' opposite number was Eupheme (Praise).
PARENTS
[1.1] NYX (no father) (Hesiod Theogony 211)
[1.2] EREBOS & NYX (Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.17)
ENCYCLOPEDIA
MOMUS (Mômos), a son of Nyx, is a personification of mockery and censure. (Hes. Theog. 214.) Thus he is said to have censured in the man formed by Hephaestus, that a little door had not been left in his breast, so as to enable one to look into his secret thoughts. (Lucian, Hermotim. 20.) Aphrodite alone was, according to him, blameless. (Philostr. Ep. 21.)
Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Hesiod, Theogony 211 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) :
"And Nyx (Night) bare hateful Moros (Doom) and black Ker (Violent Death) and Thanatos (Death), and she bare Hypnos (Sleep) and the tribe of Oneiroi (Dreams). And again the goddess murky Nyx, though she lay with none, bare Momos (Blame) and painful Oizys (Misery), and the Hesperides . . . Also she bare the Moirai (Fates) and the ruthless avenging Keres (Death-Fates) . . . Also deadly Nyx bare Nemesis (Envy) to afflict mortal men, and after her, Apate (Deceit) and Philotes (Friendship) and hateful Geras (Old Age) and hard-hearted Eris (Strife)."
Aesop, Fables 518 (from Babrius 59) (trans. Gibbs) (Greek fable C6th B.C.) :
"The story goes that Zeus, Poseidon and Athena were arguing about who could make something truly good. Zeus made the most excellent of all animals, man, while Athena made a house for people to live in, and, when it was his turn, Poseidon made a bull. Momos (Momus, Complaint) was selected to judge the competition, for he was still living among the gods at that time. Given that Momos was inclined to dislike them all, he immediately started to criticize the bull for not having eyes under his horns to let him take aim when he gored something; he criticized man for not having been given a window into his heart so that his neighbour could see what he was planning; and he criticized the house because it had not been made with iron wheels at its base, which would have made it possible for the owners of the house to move it from place to place when they went travelling."
[N.B. Parts of this fable are alluded to in Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 15.50--the absence of a window into the heart--and in Aristotle, Parts of Animals 3.2--the bull and his horns.]
Plato, Republic 487a (trans. Shorey) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) :
"[Even] Momos (Complaint) himself could not find fault with that."
Callimachus, Hymn 2 to Apollo 105 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) :
"But Momos (Blame)--let him go where Phthonos (Envy) dwells!"
Callimachus, Epigrams Fragment 393 :
"Momos (Mockery) himself used to write on the walls : ‘Kronos (Cronus) is wise.’"
[N.B. Kronos was the King of the Titanes deposed by Zeus. Momos is causing trouble with his mocking graffiti.]
Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3. 17 (trans. Rackham) (Roman rhetorician C1st B.C.) :
"Their [Aether and Hemera's] brothers and sisters, whom the ancient genealogists name Amor (Love), Dolus (Guile), Metus (Fear), Labor (Toil), Invidentia (Envy), Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Tenebrae (Darkness), Miseria (Misery), Querella (Complaint) [i.e. Momos], Gratia (Favour), Fraus (Fraud), Pertinacia (Obstinacy), the Parcae (Fates), the Hesperides, the Somnia (Dreams): all of these are fabled to be the children of Erebus (Darkness) and Nox (Night) [Nyx]."
SOURCES
GREEK
- Hesiod, Theogony - Greek Epic C8th - 7th B.C.
- Aesop, Fables - Greek Fables C6th B.C.
- Plato, Republic - Greek Philosophy C4th B.C.
- Callimachus, Hymns - Greek Poetry C3rd B.C.
- Callimachus, Fragments - Greek Poetry C3rd B.C.
ROMAN
- Cicero, De Natura Deorum - Latin Rhetoric C1st B.C.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.
As a scholar deeply versed in Greek mythology and its intricate details, I can confidently provide comprehensive information about the various elements mentioned in the excerpt related to Greek mythology, specifically concerning Momus (or Momos), the god of mockery, blame, ridicule, scorn, complaint, and harsh criticism.
Greek Mythology, an intricate tapestry of gods, spirits, and heroes, includes the hierarchy of divine beings, among them the Greek gods and Daemones (spirits) like Momus. Here's an analysis of the concepts referenced in the passage:
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Greek Mythology: A collection of myths and legends surrounding the lives and actions of gods, heroes, and mythical creatures. These stories form the basis of ancient Greek religious beliefs and cultural understanding.
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Greek Gods: Immortal beings embodying various aspects of life, nature, and the human condition. They reside on Mount Olympus and control different domains or forces, often interacting with and influencing mortal affairs.
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Daemones (Spirits): In Greek mythology, daemones are lesser spirits or deities that embody specific concepts, phenomena, or emotions. Momus is one such spirit, personifying mockery and blame.
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Momus (or Momos): Momus, the son of Nyx (the primordial goddess of night), embodies criticism and censure. He was expelled from heaven by Zeus for ridiculing the gods. He symbolizes fault-finding and critiques the imperfections he perceives in divine creations.
- Momus criticized Hephaestus's creation of man, lamenting the absence of a window into man's heart for others to see his intentions, emphasizing flaws in creations.
- He found fault in various divine creations, highlighting imperfections even in exceptional designs made by gods like Zeus, Athena, and Poseidon.
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Parentage: Momus is mentioned to be the son of Nyx, born without a father in some accounts, while others attribute his parentage to Erebus and Nyx.
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Literary Sources: The passage references various ancient texts and authors like Hesiod, Aesop, Plato, Callimachus, and Cicero. These writings offer insights into Momus's role in various tales and philosophical discussions, portraying his character as a perpetual critic and fault-finder among the divine beings.
The excerpt includes quotes from different ancient texts, showcasing Momus's critical nature through anecdotes and stories, such as his judging of Zeus, Athena, and Poseidon's creations and his criticism of divine designs.
These references provide a rich understanding of Momus's character and the broader context of Greek mythology, demonstrating his role as a personified spirit of blame and mockery within the pantheon of Greek gods and spirits.
