Momus, also spelled Momos, is the son of
Nyx, goddess of
night, and twin brother of
Oizys, goddess of
pain. The
personification of
mockery,
blame,
ridicule,
scorn,
raillery and
stinging criticism, Momus did his job too well, and was expelled from
Olympos.
"And again the goddess murky Nyx, though she lay with none, bare Momos." -
Theogony 214-215
"But Momos (
Blame) – let him go where
Phthonos (
Envy) dwells!” –
Callimachus,
Hymn II to Apollon 105
"According to an old
legend, the first
man was made by
Zeus, the first
bull by
Poseidon, and the first house by
Athene. On the completion of their
labors, a dispute arose as to which had made the most
perfect work. They agreed to appoint Momos as
judge, and to abide by his decision. Momos, however, being very
envious of the
handicraft of each, found fault with all. He first blamed the work of Poseidon because he had not made the horns of the bull below his eyes, so he might better see where to
strike. He then condemned the work of Zeus, because he had not placed the heart of man on the outside, that everyone might read the
thoughts of the
evil disposed and take precautions against the intended
mischief. And, lastly, he inveighed against Athene because she had not contrived
iron wheels in the
foundation of her house, so its
inhabitants might more easily remove if a
neighbor proved unpleasant. Zeus,
indignant at such
inveterate faultfinding, drove him from his office of judge, and expelled him from the
mansions of
Olympos." -
Aesop's Fables 59
Momus' siblings are:
Cer,
Thanatos,
Hypnos,
Oneiros,
Moros,
Nemesis,
Oizys,
Apate,
Philotes,
Geras,
Eris, as well as the three
Fates:
Clotho,
Laechisis,
Atropos.
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Family Tree of the Gods of Greek Mythology
Greek and Roman Mythology