| Muses | |
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 The nine Muses on a Roman sarcophagus (second century AD)—Louvre, Paris | |
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Members |
Calliope, Clio, Polyhymnia, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Erato, Melpomene, Thalia, and Urania |
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First Appearance |
Greek Myth |
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Created by |
Greek Myth |
Origin[]
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric songs, and myths that were related orally for centuries in ancient Greek culture.
The number and names of the Muses differed by region, but from the Classical period the number of Muses was standardized to nine, and their names were generally given as:
- Calliope (epic poetry)
- Clio (history)
- Polyhymnia (mime)
- Euterpe (flute)
- Terpsichore (light verse and dance)
- Erato (lyric choral poetry)
- Melpomene (tragedy)
- Thalia (comedy and a Charite)
- Urania (astronomy)
According to Hesiod's account (c. 600 BC), generally followed by the writers of antiquity, the Nine Muses were the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (i.e., "Memory" personified), figuring as personifications of knowledge and the arts, especially poetry, literature, dance and music.
Sometimes the Muses are referred to as water nymphs, associated with the springs of Helicon and with Pieris. It was said that the winged horse Pegasus touched his hooves to the ground on Helicon, causing four sacred springs to burst forth, from which the Muses, also known as pegasides, were born. Athena later tamed the horse and presented him to the Muses.
According to a myth from Ovid's Metamorphoses—alluding to the connection of Pieria with the Muses—Pierus, king of Macedon, had nine daughters he named after the nine Muses, believing that their skills were a great match to the Muses. He thus challenged the Muses to a match, resulting in his daughters, the Pierides, being turned into chattering jays (with κίσσα often erroneously translated as 'magpies') for their presumption.
Calliope had two sons, Ialemus and Orpheus, with Apollo. In another version of the story, the father of Orpheus was Oeagrus, but Apollo adopted him and taught him the skill of lyre while Calliope trained him in singing.
Linus was said to have been the son of Apollo and one of the Muses, either Calliope or Terpsichore or Urania. Rhesus was the son of Strymon and Calliope or Euterpe. The sirens were the children of Achelous and Melpomene or Terpsichore. Kleopheme was the daughter of Erato and Malos. Hyacinth was the son of Clio, according to an unpopular account.
Hymenaeus was assigned as Apollo's son by one of the muses, either Calliope, or Clio, or Terpsichore, or Urania. Corybantes were the children of Thalia and Apollo.
Public Domain Appearances[]
Literary Appearances[]
All published appearances of the Muses from before January 1, 1929 are public domain in the US.
Notable appearances include:
- Theogony
- Metamorphoses
- Iconologia (1593)
- The Odyssey
- Aeneid
- Dante's Inferno
- Amores
- Paradise Lost
- Troilus and Criseyde
Theatrical and Musical Appearances[]
- Henry V
- The Sweet Girl Graduate (play), by Carolyn Wells (May 1921)