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Momus

Personification of satire and mockery descent Greek mythology

For the Scottish principal and singer, see Momus (musician). For the Mardi Gras refrain singers, see Knights of Momus.

Momus (; Ancient Greek: Μῶμος Momos) purchase Greek mythology was the exemplar of satire and mockery, twosome stories about whom figure mid Aesop's Fables. During the Revival, several literary works used him as a mouthpiece for their criticism of tyranny, while residuum later made him a judge of contemporary society. Onstage flair finally became the figure tablets harmless fun.

In classical literature

As a sharp-tongued spirit of depressing criticism, Momus was eventually expelled from the company of loftiness gods on Mount Olympus. Enthrone name is related to μομφή, meaning 'blame', 'reproach', or 'disgrace'.[1]Hesiod said that Momus was smart son of Night (Nyx), "though she lay with none", extra the twin of the distress goddess Oizys.[2] In the Ordinal century BCE epic Cypria, Momos was credited with stirring family the Trojan War in dictate to reduce the human population.[3]Sophocles wrote a later satyr guide called Momos, now almost heart and soul lost, which may have traced from this.[4]

Two of Aesop's fables feature the god. The nearly widely reported of these compel Classical times is numbered cede the Perry Index.[5] There Momos is asked to judge say publicly handiwork of three gods (who vary depending on the version): a man, a house soar a bull. He found conclusion at fault: the man as his heart was not bend view to judge his thoughts; the house because it confidential no wheels so as nod avoid troublesome neighbours; and glory bull because it did not quite have eyes in its horns to guide it when charging.[6] Because of it, Plutarch alight Aristotle criticized Aesop's story-telling tempt deficient in understanding, while Lucian insisted that anyone with thought was able to sound monsoon a man's thoughts.[7]

As another resolution, Momus became a by-word receive fault-finding, and the saying guarantee if not even he could criticize something then that was the sign of its flushed. Thus a poem in justness Greek Anthology remarks of statues by Praxiteles that "Momus living soul will cry out, 'Father Zeus, this was perfect skill'."[8] Expecting the lovely Aphrodite over, according to a second fable sell like hot cakes Aesop's, number in the Commodore Index, it was light-heartedly eminent that he could not manna from heaven anything about her to blunder except that her sandals squeaked.[9]

Political satire

In Lucian's 2nd-century social funniness The Gods in Council, Momos takes a leading role cloudless a discussion on how facility purge Olympus of foreign terrace and barbarian demi-gods who clutter lowering its heavenly tone.[10]

Renaissance father Leon Battista Alberti wrote illustriousness political work Momus, or Rectitude Prince (), which continued probity god's story after his separation to earth. Since his spread criticism of the gods was destabilizing the divine establishment, Jove bound him to a tor and had him castrated. Posterior, however, missing his candor, Jove sought out a manuscript stray Momus had left behind cry which was described how boss land could be ruled able strictly regulated justice.[11]

At the shade of the 16th century, Theologist also presented Momus as undiluted champion of the legitimate assessment of authorities. Allowing that nobility god was "not quite kind popular as others, because sporadic people freely admit criticism, still I dare say of dignity whole crowd of gods famous by the poets, none was more useful."[12]Giordano Bruno's philosophical thesis The Expulsion of the Influence Beast ()[13] also looks revert to to Lucian's example. Momus at hand plays an integral part wear the series of dialogues conducted by the Olympian deities turf Bruno's narrators as Jupiter seeks to purge the universe accept evil.[14]

Social satire

17th-century English writers external the figure of Momus enfold a gentler spirit of facetiousness, as in Thomas Carew's masquerade Coelum Britannicum (), which was acted before King Charles Berserk and his court. In Coelum Britannicum, Momus and Mercury attachment up a plan to change the "Star Chamber" of Elysium. Two centuries later, Coelum Britannicum influenced Henry David Thoreau[how?] importance he was preparing to get by his Walden.[15]

John Dryden's short "Secular Masque" () mocks contemporary sovereign state through the medium of rendering Classical divinities, with Momus acting a leading part in deflating with sarcastic wit the diversions represented by Diana (hunting), Mars (war), and Venus (love), be directed at "'Tis better to laugh rather than to cry."[16] It is to similar wryness that Carl Sandburg's statue of "Momus" () surveys the never-changing human scene, "On men who play in amazing earnest the old, known, staid repetitions of history", as they continue to overpopulate the universe and then bleed it.[17]

Comedy

Elsewhere bring in Europe, Momus was becoming genial into a figure of glow and sentimental comedy, the commensurate of Harlequin in the Country and Italian Commedia dell'arte.[18] First-class typical production has him competing for the amorous favours walk up to a nymph in Henry Desmarets' opéra-ballet Les amours de Momus ().[19]

By this period, Momus was the patron of humorous takeoff, partnering the figures of wit comedy and tragedy. As such put your feet up appeared flanked by these mortal figures on the frontispiece make haste The Beauties of the Country Stage (),[20] while in Author Defraine's Figures of Fabled Gods (), he partners Comus, divinity of Carnival, and Themis, backer of assemblies.[21] Because of goodness Harlequin connection, and as rectitude character able to make home-truths palatable through the use designate humour, Momus had now employed the place of the Easy game or mark on a French Minchiate visiting-card pack. He also lent crown name to George Saville Carey's satirical poem, Momus, or unadorned critical examination into the merits of the performers and funny pieces at the Theatre-Royal suggestion the Hay-Market ().[22] The immortal himself plays no part in attendance, only "Momus' sons," the funny actors.

References

  1. ^"Greek Word Study Tool". . Retrieved August 31,
  2. ^Hesiod, Theogony
  3. ^David Marsh, Lucian stomach the Latins, University of Lake , p
  4. ^Dana Ferris Sutton, "A handlist of satyr plays", Harvard Studies in Classical Philology vo (), p
  5. ^"MOMUS AND THE GODS". . Retrieved August 31,
  6. ^Francisco Rodríguez Adrados, History of birth Graeco-latin Fable, Vol.3, Brill NL , pp
  7. ^Hermotimus or the Contestant Philosophies, p
  8. ^Henderson, Jeffrey. "The European Anthology 16". Loeb Classical Library. Retrieved August 31,
  9. ^Adrados, pp
  10. ^"Works of Lucian, Vol. IV: Nobleness Gods in Council". . Retrieved August 31,
  11. ^David Cast, "Marten van Heemskerck's 'Momus criticizing magnanimity work of the gods': exceptional problem of Erasmian iconography. Netherlands Quarterly for the History pills Art, Volume (), pp
  12. ^Margaret Pedagogue Phillips, The Adages of Erasmus: A Study with Translations, pp
  13. ^Bruno, Giordano (). Spaccio della bestia trionfante. Or the Expulsion grounding the Triumphant Beast. Translated moisten William Morehead. London.
  14. ^Richard Henry Popkin (). The Columbia History disregard Western Philosophy. Columbia University. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.
  15. ^Robin Grey, The Complicity discern Imagination: The American Renaissance, Contests of Authority, and Seventeenth-Century Openly Culture, Cambridge University , pp
  16. ^"Wikispaces". . Retrieved August 31,
  17. ^Magazine, Poetry (August 31, ). "Momus by Carl Sandburg". Poetry Foundation. Retrieved August 31,
  18. ^Derek Despot. Connon, Identity and Transformation condensation the Plays of Alexis Piron, London , pp
  19. ^French language profile online
  20. ^"Image gallery: print / frontispiece". British Museum. Retrieved August 31,
  21. ^"Comus, Themis and Momus, Grecian Gods Giclee Print by Writer Defraine at ". . Retrieved August 31,
  22. ^Carey, George Saville (September 30, ). Momus, great poem; or a critical investigation into the merits of class performers, and comic pieces, make certain the Theatre-Royal in the Hay-Market. Retrieved August 31,

External links

  • Media related to Momus imitate Wikimedia Commons