Momus
Spirit of mockery, blame, and criticism, known for finding fault with the works of gods and mortals alike.
The Myth of Momus
Momus was a son of Nyx and one of the most entertaining minor figures in Greek myth, because his primary power was criticism. He found fault with the work of the three greatest craftsmen among the gods: he complained that Hephaestus's man of clay had no door in his chest so his thoughts could be inspected; that Poseidon's bull had its horns in the wrong place; and that Aphrodite's woman talked too much — a rare complaint among the gods, since he could find nothing wrong with her physical form. Eventually the gods expelled him from Olympus because his criticisms became intolerable. He became a symbol of the satirist and the critic in later literature, and is the origin of the phrase "not a word from Momus" — meaning something so perfect even the greatest critic cannot fault it.
Parents
{Nyx}
Children
{}
Symbols
Fun Fact
Momus was expelled from Olympus for being too critical — even the gods had a limit for editorial feedback on their creations.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
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The daimon of playfulness and carefree amusement, representing the lighter side of human experience
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The daimon of hard labour and the wearying toil that consumes mortal existence