Editing Phthonus

{{Short description|Deity in Greek mythology}}
[[File:Phthonos.jpg|thumb|[[Armento]] vase painting 375-350 BC]]

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In [[Greek mythology]], '''Phthonus''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|θ|oʊ|n|ə|s}}; [[Ancient Greek]]: Φθόνος ''Phthónos''), or sometimes '''[[Zelus]]''', was the personification of jealousy and envy,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Accorinti |first1=Domenico |url=https://brill.com/view/book/edcoll/9789004310698/B9789004310698_009.xml |title=Brill's Companion to Nonnus of Panopolis |date=11 March 2016 |publisher=Brill |doi=10.1163/9789004310698_009 |isbn=9789004310698 |access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref> most prominently in matters of romance. In [[Nonnus]]'s ''[[Dionysiaca]]'', he is by proxy the cause of [[Semele]]'s death, having informed [[Hera]] of [[Zeus]]'s affair with the princess. He also appears in [[Callimachus]]'s Hymn to [[Apollo]], goading the god into an argument.{{cn|date=November 2024}} He is often compared and linked to the goddess of chaos and discord, [[Eris (mythology)|Éris]], for always causing the same effects as the goddess, using and abusing jealousy and envy to create fights between everyone. Furthermore, they are both [[Daimon|Daemons]].

His female counterpart was [[Nemesis]], personification of revenge. In contrast to Phthonus’ domain being closely tied to romantic and sexual jealousy, Nemesis was more closely related to violent retribution.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

This deity, already envious of Dionysus before his birth, incited jealousy in Athena by displaying an image of Ares clad in fake blood-drenched armor.<ref name="nonnus">[[Nonnus of Panopolis]], ''[[Dionysiaca]]'', Book 8, 34-49.</ref> Additionally, this provoked Hera’s envy, leading her to seek another celestial spouse as she suspected Zeus would remain with [[Semele]].<ref>[[Nonnus of Panopolis]], ''[[Dionysiaca]]'', Book 8, 50-60.</ref> The deity persisted in provoking Hera and Athena, recalling Zeus’s various affairs and foretelling heroic feats for Dionysus.<ref name="nonnus" /> According to [[Irenaeus]], [[Gnostics]] believed that the first angel and Authadia conceived the children [[Kakia]] (wickedness), Zelos (emulation), Phthonus (envy), [[Erinyes|Erinnys]] (fury), and [[Epithymia]] (lust).<ref>{{cite book |author1=Irenaeus |title=Against Heresies |publisher=Sacred-Texts |url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/001/0010726.htm#fn_2966}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Greek mythology (deities)|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Gnostic deities]]
[[Category:Greek love and lust gods]]
[[Category:Personifications in Greek mythology]]
{{Greek-deity-stub}}