Through my readings today (and over active imagination) I have become convinced I am the living embodiment of the Greek god Momus. It may seem a rather rash conclusion to have come to but the more I read the more certain I become that he created me to live through on earth. I imagine it happened like this…..
While sat on a mountain on the outskirts of Mount Olympus, following his banishment by Zeus (damn him and his bearded ways), glancing over earth he thought, as a puppet master might…… I can create a version of me, a mortal version, who may live on earth. Being cunning as I am I shall make her female, that way no one will guess it is me. I shall create her with a window to her soul and she will desire to access what is in the human heart, and she will laugh while she does it….and I will sit on my mountain and laugh at her!
My first point would be Momus is the Greek god of criticism and sarcasm…my friends may suggest that is my point proven and I need not go on. And granted it was these simple points which first caught my, desperately seeking anything other than work, attention. I would suggest that further reading only went on to support my initial claim. Momus is the son of Nyx, the goddess off night; he was also the god of writers and poets.
Momus took issue with another of the gods Hephaestus, the son of Zeus, for he created the first woman, Pandora, at the command of Zeus. Momus criticised Hephaestus for not creating women with a door or window into the breast through which their thoughts and feeling could be seen (without a window to the soul). I personally think this would have been kind of handy, saved us all a bit of time. Momus also mocked Zeus himself stating he was a violent god and lusts for women (basically he was a violent dirty philanderer). The only one thing he struggled to find any reason to mock was Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty) although he did attempt to suggesting she was talkative and had creaky sandals (bet that one really hurt). I believe this may well be the first evidence of playground psychology, Momus wanted a piece of the beautiful Aphrodite and not being used to such feelings dealt with them in the only way he knew how, through mocking. It was because of all his mocking and criticism that Momus was banished from Mount Olympus … and this is when he had time to sit and think about his great master plan. A mortal self.
I would like to share my new found appreciation of my god self in the form of this poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, American author and poet who wrote of optimism
Though with gods the world is cumbered,
Gods unnamed, and gods unnumbered,
Never god was known to be
Who had not his devotee.
So I dedicate to mine,
Here in verse, my temple-shrine.
‘Tis not Ares, – mighty Mars,
Who can give success in wars.
‘Tis not Morpheus, who doth keep
Guard above us while we sleep,
‘Tis not Venus, she whose duty
‘Tis to give us love and beauty;
Hail to these, and others, after
Momus, gleesome god of laughter.
Quirinus would guard my health,
Plutus would insure me wealth;
Mercury looks after trade,
Hera smiles on youth and maid.
All are kind, I own their worth,
After Momus, god of mirth.
Though Apollo, out of spite,
Hides away his face of light,
Though Minerva looks askance,
Deigning me no smiling glance,
Kings and queens may envy me
While I claim the god of glee.
Wisdom wearies, Love had wings –
Wealth makes burdens, Pleasure stings,
Glory proves a thorny crown –
So all gifts the gods throw down
Bring their pains and troubles after;
All save Momus, god of laughter.
He alone gives constant joy.
Hail to Momus, happy boy.
The Facts of Life 