InGreek mythology,Phthonus (/ˈθoʊnəs/;Ancient Greek: ΦθόνοςPhthónos), or sometimesZelus, was the personification of jealousy and envy,[1] most prominently in matters of romance. InNonnus'sDionysiaca, he is by proxy the cause ofSemele's death, having informedHera ofZeus's affair with the princess. He also appears inCallimachus's Hymn toApollo, goading the god into an argument.[citation needed] He is often compared and linked to the goddess of chaos and discord,Éris, for always causing the same effects as the goddess, using and abusing jealousy and envy to create fights between everyone. Furthermore, they are bothDaemons.
His female counterpart wasNemesis, personification of revenge. In contrast to Phthonus’ domain being closely tied to romantic and sexual jealousy, Nemesis was more closely related to violent retribution.[citation needed]
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.[2] Additionally, this provoked Hera’s envy, leading her to seek another celestial spouse as she suspected Zeus would remain withSemele.[3] The deity persisted in provoking Hera and Athena, recalling Zeus’s various affairs and foretelling heroic feats for Dionysus.[2] According toIrenaeus,Gnostics believed that the first angel and Authadia conceived the childrenKakia (wickedness), Zelos (emulation), Phthonus (envy),Erinnys (fury), andEpithymia (lust).[4]
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