“Sing to me oh Muse…
Oh please sing to me…..”
Hesiod — Theogony
“Sing in me, Muse, and
through me tell the story…
Homer —The Odyssey-
The Muses were the daughters of the mighty Zeus and the Titaness Mnemosyne, his aunt, the goddess of memory in Greek mythology. Mnemosyne conceived the nine Muses after sleeping with Zeus for nine consecutive nights.
Mnemosyne is celebrated in the first few lines of epic poems like the Iliad and the Odyssey, among others.
Towards the goddess we have kept our devotion alive with words we still use today such as memories, mnemonic, and mnemonics which refer to her.
Their nine daughters were beautiful young women who were at the same time the goddesses as well as the representations of science, literature, and the arts. They were educated by Apollo and provided the inspiration of every knowledge and of the arts. They were the forces of the creative mind.
Hesiod, in his Theogony, claimed to have encountered the Muses on Mount Helicon, who whispered in his ears the story of the gods , transforming the simple shepherd to one of the most important poets in antiquity.
The poet has stated that the Muses were created to help people forget their troubles and their suffering, perhaps as a balance to their mother Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory.
Hesiod revealed that they were called Muses, as the ancient Greek word “mosis” refers to the desire and wish. The word museum also comes from the Greek Muses.
Who Were They ?
- Calliope, the Muse of epic poetry
- Clio, the Muse of history
- Erato, the Muse of lyric poetry
- Euterpe, the Muse of music
- Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy
- Polyhymnia, the Muse of sacred poetry
- Terpsichore, the Muse of dance and chorus
- Thalia, the Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry
- Urania, the Muse of astronomy
1. Calliope
Calliope, named the“beautiful-voiced,» was the Muse of epic poetry and the goddess of eloquence.
She had two sons, Orpheus and Linus, and was said to be the wisest and most assertive of the Muses.
How to recognise her ?
She is usually represented wearing a gold crown and carrying a writing tablet, a scroll, or a book in her hand
2. Clio
Clio , whose name means“to make famous” or “celebrate,» was the Muse of history.
She had one son, Hyacinth.
How to recognise her ?
She is usually depicted with an open scroll or seated by a set of books.
3. Erato
Erato, meaning the “lovely” or “beloved,» was the Muse of lyric poetry, especially love and erotic poetry. Her name comes from the Greek word “Eros” that refers to the feeling of falling in love.
How to recognise her ?
She is usually depicted with a wreath of myrtle and roses and holding a kithara (lyre), or a golden arrow. Erato is often represented accompanied by Eros holding a torch.
4. Euterpe
Euterpe, whose name an be translated “the giver of much delight,» is the Muse of music and dialectic.
She discovered several musical instruments.
How to recognise her ?
She is usually shown holding or playing an aulos (double flute).
5. Melpomene
Melpomene, which means: “to celebrate with dance and song,» was initially the Muse of singing but later she became the Muse of tragedy. Opposite from Thalia, she invented tragedy, rhetoric speech and Melos. To create beautiful lyrical phrases, it was traditional to call on Melpomene for inspiration.
How to recognise her ?
She is most usually portrayed with a “tragic mask” and wearing the boots traditionally worn by tragic actors or holding a knife or sword in one hand and the tragic mask in the other.
6. Polyhymnia
Polyhymnia or “the one of many hymns,» was the Muse of sacred poetry, sacred hymns and eloquence. She was also sometimes credited as being the Muse of geometry and meditation.
How to recognise her ?
She is usually represented as very serious, in meditation and pensive while holding a finger to her mouth and wearing a long cloak.
7. Terpsichore
Terpsichore,whose name can be translated as” delight in dancing “ was the Muse of dance and dramatic chorus. She invented dances, the harp and ….. education, schools, lessons and tutoring….
She is the mother of the sirens : one of them Parthenope, drowned herself in desperation when her songs failed to entice Odysseus.
How to recognise her ?
She is often shown sitting down or standing up while holding a lyre.
8. Thalia
Thalia, “the joyous» or «the flourishing,» is the Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry.
She also discovered comedy, geometry, architectural science and agriculture.
How to recognise her?
Thalia is usually portrayed as a young woman with a joyous air wearing a crown of ivy, boots, and carrying a comic mask in her hand. Many statues also depict her holding a bugle and a trumpet (objects used to amplify actor’s voices in ancient comedy) or a shepherd’s staff.
9. Urania
Urania , translation : “heavenly” or “of heaven,» was the muse of astronomy and astronomical writings.
She could foresee the future by the arrangement of the stars.
She inherited Zeus’ power and majesty and Mnemosynes’ beauty and grace, and was often associated with universal love.
How to recognise her ?
She is commonly portrayed dressed in a cloak embroidered with stars with her eyes and with a celestial globe.
Was There a Tenth Muse ?
The poetess Sappho of Lesbos was given the title of the «Tenth Muse” by Plato. But it was an honorific title, demonstrating Plato’s admiration for the poetess about whom we know very little.
Why Are the 9 Muses so Important ?
The nine Muses and their gifts of song, dance, and joy helped the gods and the ancient Greeks forget their troubles and focus on art and beauty.
A world filled with beauty, poetry and knowing was the epitome of civilisation for the Ancient Greeks who laid the foundations to the Western civilisation.
How could we not be grateful ?