The Nine Muses of Greek Mythology

 

 

In Greek mythology, the Nine Muses were minor goddesses associated the arts and sciences and were credited with inspiring some of the best art, poetry and music created by men and women throughout history.

The muses, being only minor goddesses, didn’t appear in any well-known myths of their own, however, they did play the part of background characters, supporting the main characters of myths.

According to ancient Greek poet Hesiod (seventh century BC), the nine muses are the daughters of the Titian, Mnemosyne, goddess of memory and Zeus, king of all Greek gods, whom, so they say, also happened to be her nephew.

The story goes that Mnemosyne and Zeus spent nine consecutive nights together, resulting in the birth, on nine consecutive days, of the nine muses, at Pieria, a village located at the foot of Mount Olympus.

 

Who Were the Nine Muses and Where Did They Live?

 

 

The nine muses lived on Mount Helicon, in Boeotia, Greece, where, it is said, there were two springs devoted to the Muses; the Aganippe and the Hippocrene, both having the Greek word for horse (ἵππος híppos), incorporated into their names.

The Hippocrene spring came into being when the winged horse Pegasus, stamped on a rock so forcefully with his hoof, a spring burst forth from the spot.

Both Mount Helicon and the Hippocrene spring were regarded as fonts of poetic inspiration.

 

The nine muses were as follows:

 

1. Calliope – (beautiful-voiced ) – Muse of Epic Poetry

2. Kleio – (to make famous) – Muse of history

3.  Euterpe – (Giving Much Delight) – Muse of music and lyric poetry

4. Thaleia – (Blooming) – Muse of comedy

5. Melpomene – (Celebrate with Song) – Muse of tragedy

6. Terpsichore – (Delighting in Dance) – Muse of dance

7. Erato – (Beloved) – Muse of erotic poetry

8. Polyhymnia – (Many Hymns) – Muse of hymns

9. Urania or Ourania – (Heavenly One) – Muse of astronomy

 

Divine Inspiration

 

 

More often than not the muses were to be found in the company of Apollo, who ruled over conceptions not unlike those of the muses, such as music, light, eloquence and poetry.

Originally the muses were the patron goddesses of poets, who at the time, if they wanted musical backing as they recited their work, were forced to also become musicians.

 Gradually the muses came to symbolize all the liberal arts and were regarded as the divine inspiration for poetry, lyric, song and dance as well as the artist and the artisan.

In ancient times, believing their talent came from their divine intervention; artists would devote their work to the muses.

The idea still holds today; often, artists, writers and painters, overwhelmed by that intangible rush of inspiration, brought upon them by someone they highly respect, be it a friend or a famous painter or poet, may say; “I have found my muse!”.

From “muse”, comes the word museum, the place where works from “inspired people” are displayed, which in turn, go on to inspire yet more creative minds and the cycle goes on.

 

Mnemosyne

Goddess of Memory and Mother of the Muses

 

 

Mnemosyne was a Titan goddess whose name translates as “memory” and from Menmoysne came the ability to remember, to use the power of reason and to make use of language.

Eventually, owing to all these attributes, Menmoysne also became associated with speech.

Therefore, it was only to be expected, that all ancient orators, kings and poets, bowed down to the memory goddess, in thanks for enabling them to utilize persuasive rhetoric; the art of using language to argue successfully for or against a set of beliefs.

Mnemosyne lived in the Pieria region, near to Mount Olympus and it was here, for nine consecutive nights, that she was seduced by Zeus, disguised as a mortal shepherd, resulting in the birth, on nine consecutive days, of nine daughters, who came to be known collectively as the Muses.

Although not a major goddess, Mnemosyne did however have followers in the cult of Asclepius, god of medicine, believed to have the ability to cure all illnesses, which sprung up in Greece in around the 5th century BC.

In some areas of ancient Greece, after making offerings to Asclepius, one last prayer was offered to Mnemosyne, in the hope she would help the devotee remember any visions they had while sleeping there.

Mnemosyne was also worshipped in Lebadeia in Boeotia, at Mount Helicon in Boeotia and there was a statue of Mnemosyne in the shrine of Dionysus in Athens.

 

Calliope

Muse of Epic Poetry

 

 

Calliope, first-born of the Muses, whose name means The “beautiful-voiced”, presided over eloquence and epic poetry and was so called, owing to the euphoric harmony of her voice, when she recited poetry.

Epic poetry is a lengthy, narrative form of poetry that tells the story of a heroic individual or group, recounting their extraordinary deeds and struggles, often in a formal, dignified style.

Calliope was sometimes believed to be Homer’s muse for his epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey.

Both the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, active between 750 and 650 BC, and the Roman Ovid, active between  43 BC – AD 17,  called her the “Chief of all Muses”; the wisest and most assertive.

Caliope is usually portrayed holding a writing tablet, a roll of paper or a book in her hand and wearing a gold crown and sometimes is shown together with her children.

 

Kleio (Clio)

Muse of History

 

 

 Kleio, whose name means to recount or to make famous, from the Greek Kleio – κλείω, is the muse of history (A few other accounts have her as the muse of lyre-playing).

She was believed to possess the ability to immortalize anyone by admitting their deeds to history, regardless of whether they were good or a bad, making them unforgettable.

Kleio is usually depicted with an open parchment scroll, a book, or a set of tablets, the heroic trumpet or the clepsydra (water clock).

 

​ Euterpe

Muse of Music

 

 

Euterpe, whose name means “to please” and was called “Giver of delight” by ancient poets, was the muse of music.

In late Classical times, she was also known as the muse of lyric poetry.

She is usually depicted with her favourite instruments, the two-pipe or double-flute; the diaulos, an ancient Greece wind instrument consisting of two pipes (aulos) and the lyre, also an ancient Greek instrument.

Euterpe’s role was to entertain the gods on Mount Olympus and inspire, guide and assist musicians with their compositions

 

Thalia

Muse of Comedy

 

 

Thalia, whose name means “to flourish or bloom”, from Ancient Greek “θάλλειν – thállein”, was the Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry.

The muse of comedy is portrayed as a happy young woman crowned with ivy, wearing boots and holding a comic mask in her hand.

 She may often also be seen holding a bugle and a trumpet, both of which were used to reinforce the voice of the actor in ancient comedy.

 

Melpomene

Muse of Tragedy

 

 

Melpomene, whose name means to “to sing’’ or “the melodious one”, from the Greek verb melpô or melpomai, which means to “to celebrate with dance and song”, is the muse of tragedy.

It may seem strange that the muse of tragedy’s name derives from the Greek verb meaning “to celebrate with dance and song”, however; it makes more sense when you realize the songs she sings and dances to, are those of funeral rituals and mourning.

Melpomene is depicted holding either a dagger or a sword, and a tragic mask or an expression of grieving and a crown of leaves.

 

Terpsichore

Muse of Dance

 

 

“The dance, of all the arts, is the one that most influences the soul.”

Plato – ancient Greek philosopher

 Terpsichore, whose name means “delight in dancing”, is the muse of dance and chorus.

This delightful dancer is usually depicted holding a lyre, accompanying dancers with her music.

 Music and dance were not only an essential part of education, dancing was also a way of worshiping the gods and celebrating at festivals such as “The Dionysia”, festivals dating back to the fifth century BC, 

The Maenads, followers of Dionysus, would drink wine and dance frenziedly accompanied by Terpsichore, dancing alongside them, inspiring them to move their feet.

 

Erato

Muse of Erotic Poetry

 

 

Erato, whose name means “desired” or “lovely”, derived from the same root, in ancient Greek, as Eros, (Cupid), god of love, desire and passion, is the ancient Greek muse of lyrical or erotic poetry.

Lyrical poetry is a short, non-narrative form of poetry that expresses the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of a single speaker, often in the first person and has a musical quality reminiscent of ancient Greek lyrics sung to a lyre.

 Common forms of lyrical poetry include sonnets, odes and elegies.

Erato is mostly portrayed with a wreath of myrtle and roses, holding a lyre, or a small kithara, a musical instrument associated with Apollo.

Other depictions show her holding a golden arrow, a symbol of Eros, whom with she is often accompanied, reminding us of the feelings she inspires.

Of all the Muses, Erato was the one who inspired the most heartache and devotion and together with Eros, inspired the hearts of the love poets.

 

Polyhymnia

Muse of Hymns

 

 

Polyhymnia, whose name means ‘the one of many praises’, derived from the Greek words “poly”, meaning “many” and “hymnos”, which means “praise”, is the muse of sacred poetry, sacred hymn, dance and eloquence, as well as agriculture and pantomime.

Polyhymnia is depicted as serious, pensive and meditative, often holding a finger to her mouth, dressed in a long cloak and veil and resting her elbow on a pillar.

Those wishing to deliver eloquent speeches would pray to Polyhymnia for her guidance, in his “Bibliotheca historica”, Diodorus of Sicily a 1st century BC Greek historian wrote:

“Polyhymnia, because by her great praises she brings distinction to writers whose works have won for them immortal fame…”

 

  Urania

Muse of Astronomy and Astrology

 

 

Urania or Ouranía, whose name means “heavenly” or “of heaven”, is the muse of astronomy and astrology and is often associated with universal love.

She is usually shown with a globe and compass, wearing a cloak embroidered with stars and her eyes focused on the skies.

She is able to foretell the future by the arrangement of the stars

Because of the similarity in their names, the muse Urania is often mixed up with Aphrodite Urania; ”heavenly Aphrodite”.

During the Renaissance, Urania began to be considered the Muse for Christian poets.

Astronomical observatories in Berlin, Budapest, Bucharest, Vienna, Zürich, Antwerp and Uraniborg on the island of Hven, are all named after the muse Urania.

The main belt asteroid (30) Urania is also named after her.

 

 

The official seal of the U.S. Naval Observatory portrays Urania.

 Hr. Ms. Urania is a sail training vessel for the Royal Netherlands Naval College.

 There has been a Hr. Ms. Urania in the Royal Netherlands Navy since 1832.

Urania is featured on the seal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, along with the motto; Quo ducit Urania “Where Urania leads”.

 

​ The Modern Muse

 

 

Throughout history, a muse has been someone, usually a woman, who inspires creative inspiration in people of an artistic disposition.

Most commonly a muse, usually a woman, will be a close friend, lover or wife of an artist, who, owing to their charisma, wisdom, sophistication, eroticism, intimate friendship, or other such characteristics, gives inspiration, be it either to a specific work or the artist’s work in general.

Muses should not be confused with patrons, teachers or organizers who on the whole, support artists without inspiring.

Modern muses, often artists in their own right, who have left their mark on well-known artists are; Elizabeth Siddal, for the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Gala, for Salvador Dalí, Dora Maar, for Pablo Picasso, Yoko Ono, for John Lennon and Pattie Boyd, for Eric Clapton and George Harrison, to name but a few.