Pseudologos

The Pseudologoi were the personifications of lies in Greek mythology,

sons of the goddess of strife Eris. They had numerous siblings,
including Horcus, Ponos, Algea, the Hysminai, the Makhai, the Phonoi,
the Androktasiai, the Neikea, Limos, the Amphilogiai, Dysnomia, Ate,
and Lethe. They were all personifications of wrong doings or negative
situations, such as pain, fights, murder, lies and forgetfulness.
According to a different source, however, there was only one
Pseudologos, a female deity, created by Dolos, spirit of deception and
apprentice of the Titan god Prometheus. Prometheus decided to create
Aletheia, goddess of Truth, so that the decisions of humankind would be
regulated by her. While creating her, Prometheus was called away
by Zeus, leaving Dolos alone in the workshop. Dolos started using the
remaining clay for a second sculpture, identical to the first, but he soon
ran out of clay without finishing the feet of his sculpture.
When Prometheus returned, he was awed by the similarity between the
two sculptures and put both in the kiln. He then breathed life into them
and two figures were created; the first, Aletheia walked carefully and in
a measured way; while the second, Pseudologos (falsehood) lay still, as
she had no feet.
See
Also: Eris, Horcus, Ponos, Algea, Makhai, Phonoi, Limos, Ate, Lethe, Pr
ometheus

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Hesiod, Theogony 226 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th
B.C.) :
"But abhorred Eris (Strife) bare painful Ponos (Toil), and Lethe
(Forgetfulness), and Limos (Starvation), and the Algea (Pains), full of
weeping, the Hysminai (Fightings) and the Makhai (Battles), the Phonoi
(Murders) and the Androktasiai (Man-slaughters), the Neikea
(Quarrels), the Pseudo-Logoi (Lies), the Amphillogiai (Disputes), and
Dysnomia (Lawlessness) and Ate (Ruin), who share one another's
natures, and Horkos (Oath)"
Aesop, Fables 530 (from Phaedrus Appendix 5) (trans. Gibbs) (Greek
fable C6th B.C.) :

"Prometheus, that potter who gave shape to our new generation,

decided one day to sculpt the form of Veritas (Truth) [Aletheia], using
all his skill so that she would be able to regulate people's behaviour. As
he was working, an unexpected summons from mighty Jupiter [Zeus]
called him away. Prometheus left cunning Dolos (Trickery) in charge of
his workshop, Dolos had recently become one of the god's apprentices.
Fired by ambition, Dolos (Trickery) used the time at his disposal to
fashion with his sly fingers a figure of the same size and appearance as
Veritas (Truth) [Aletheia] with identical features. When he had almost
completed the piece, which was truly remarkable, he ran out of clay to
use for her feet. The master returned, so Dolos (Trickery) quickly sat
down in his seat, quaking with fear. Prometheus was amazed at the
similarity of the two statues and wanted it to seem as if all the credit
were due to his own skill. Therefore, he put both statues in the kiln and
when they had been thoroughly baked, he infused them both with life:
sacred Veritas (Truth) walked with measured steps, while her
unfinished twin stood stuck in her tracks. That forgery, that product of
subterfuge, thus acquired the name of Mendacium (Falsehood)
[Pseudologos], and I readily agree with people who say that she has no
feet: every once in a while something that is false can start off
successfully, but with time Veritas (Truth) is sure to prevail."

[N.B. This fable is preserved in a Roman compilation so the

personifications have been translated to Latin.]