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--- cynics:momus [2012/07/20 18:58] – external edit 127.0.0.1
+++ cynics:momus [2014/03/01 12:26] (current) – [Lucian, The Gods in Council] frank
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 ====== Momus ======
+{{:cynics:momuscri.jpg?400|Momus Criticizes the Gods}}\\
+**Momus Criticizes the Gods**
 ===== Aesop, Fable 518 =====
 <blockquote>"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** (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."
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-[[http://mythfolklore.net/aesopica/oxford/518.htm|Source]]</blockquote>
+\\
+Source: Aesop's Fables. A new translation by Laura Gibbs. Oxford University Press (World's Classics): Oxford, 2002. http://mythfolklore.net/aesopica/perry/100.htm</blockquote>
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 <blockquote>Ly . How could you possibly discern the true philosopher from the false, then, by the marks you mentioned? It is not the way of such qualities to come out like that; they are hidden and secret; they are revealed only under long and patient observation, in talk and debate and the conduct they inspire. You have probably heard of **Momus**'s indictment of Hephaestus; if not, you shall have it now. According to the myth, Athene, Posidon, and Hephaestus had a match in inventiveness. Posidon made a bull, Athene planned a house, Hephaestus constructed a man; when they came before **Momus**, who was to judge, he examined their productions; I need not trouble you with his criticisms of the other two; but his objection to the man, and the fault he found with Hephaestus, was this: he should have made a window in his chest, so that, when it was opened, his thoughts and designs, his truth or falsehood, might have been apparent. **Momus** must have been blear-eyed, to have such ideas about men; but you have sharper eyes than Lynceus, and pierce through the chest to what is inside; all is patent to you, not merely any man's wishes and sentiments, but the comparative merits of any pair.
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-[[http://lucianofsamosata.info/Hermotimus.html|Source]]</blockquote>
+\\
+Source: The Works of Lucian of Samosata. Translated by Fowler, H W and F G. Oxford: The Clarendon Press. 1905. </blockquote>
 ===== Lucian, Nigrinus 32 =====
 <blockquote>One observation of his in the same spirit fairly caps the famous censure of **Momus**. **Momus** found fault with the divine artificer for not putting his bull’s horns in front of the eyes. Similarly, Nigrinus complained that when these men crown themselves in their banquets, they put the garlands in the wrong place; if they are so fond of the smell of violets and roses, they should tie on their garlands as close as may be under their nostrils; they could then snuff up the smell to their hearts’ content.
 \\
-[[http://lucianofsamosata.info/Nigrinus.html|Source]]</blockquote>
+\\
+Source: The Works of Lucian of Samosata. Translated by Fowler, H W and F G. Oxford: The Clarendon Press. 1905.</blockquote>
 ===== Lucian, The Gods in Council =====
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 Zeus. And a very equitable one it is, **Momus**. All in favour of this Bill hold up their hands! Or no: our opponents are sure to be in a majority. You may all go away now, and when Hermes makes the proclamation, every one must come, bringing with him complete particulars and proofs, with his father's and mother's names, his tribe and clan, and the reason and circumstances of his deification. And any of you who fail to produce your proofs will find it is no use having great temples on the Earth, or passing there for Gods; that will not help you with the Commissioners.
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-[[http://lucianofsamosata.info/TheGodsInCouncil.html|Source]]</blockquote>
+\\
+Source: The Works of Lucian of Samosata. Translated by Fowler, H W and F G. Oxford: The Clarendon Press. 1905.</blockquote>