The+Nine+Muses

** Jordan G. ** ==== Where do literature, music, history, and science come from? According to Greek mythology they come from nine beautiful goddesses, called the Muses or Mousai in Greek. Each Muse, or Mousa, has her own specialty in the arts or sciences. While they have a large role in Greek mythology, their stories also affect the world today. While they were always very nice, they punished those who questioned their talents. Many Greek poets and artists called on the Muses for inspiration and enlightenment. The muses may have been the most important factor in recording Greek mythology and history. ====
 * Sing to me, O Muse! **

==== When Zeus slept with Mnemosyne (titan goddess of memory) for nine consecutive nights, the result was the nine Muses. (Bolton) “Mnemosyne bore to Zeus the Mousai, the eldest of whom was Calliope, followed by Clio, Melpomene, Euterpe, Erato, Terpsichore, Urania, Thalia, and Polymnia.”-//Psuedo-Apollodorus, Biblitheca 1.18.// (Atsma) As infants, the muses were given to Apollo and the nymph Eufime to be cared for. Apollo taught the muses, and they became devoted to the Arts. The muses supported creation and inspired artists. ([|By the Way]) Their divine powers include artistic, intellectual, and scientific pursuit. (Bryant) ====

==== Their parents were not their only family, the muses also had children. Two of their children became very famous musicians, Orpheus and Linus. Calliope is said to have given birth to both, but some texts say that Terpsichore or Urania gave birth to Linus. ([|The Muses]) Apollo is, however, the father of both men, as well as the father of the Coybantes by Tahlia. Either Terpsichore or Melpomene bore the Sirens to Akheloios (river god), and Clio bore Hyacinthus to Pieros. ([|Atsma]) ====

==== The muses served as inspiration to artists and philosophers in ancient Greece. Each muse had her own sphere, as well as special items they were often depicted with in paintings. Calliope was the leader of the muses and the muse of epic and heroic poetry. She was often depicted with a writing tablet and stylus. Her name means beautiful voice. Clio was the muse of history and the inventor of historical poetry; she holds a scroll or parchment. Clio’s name means to make famous, or to proclaim. Erato, whose name means passionate or lovely, was the muse of love and lyric poetry. Her symbol is the lyre. Euterpe was the muse of music, and her name means pleasure giver. She was portrayed holding or playing the double flute. Polymnia was the muse of sacred hymns and sacred poetry. Her name means many praises, and she is portrayed in a thoughtful or meditative position. Melpomene means songstress, and she is the muse of tragedy and tragic poetry. She holds the tragic mask. Terpsichore is the muse of dance and choral poetry; her name means rejoicing in dance or whirling. In many paintings she is often depicted dancing with a lyre. Thalia is the muse of comedy and comic poetry, and holds the comic mask. Her name means festivity or blooming. Urania is the muse of astronomy and astrology. Her name means heavenly one, and she often held a globe in one hand, and a compass used for tracking stars in the other. In paintings, all the muses are depicted as delicate and beautiful women. ([|The Muses], Bryant) ====

====Often tender and caring, the muses did not like to be challenged. Those who questioned their talents were punished. One minstrel named Thamyris thought he was better than the muses, and challenged them. If he won, he would be able to sleep with all of them, but if he lost, the muses could take whatever they wanted from him. He lost the contest, and the muses took away his sight and his memory, so he could not remember how to play his songs. The muses were also challenged by King Pierdes, who claimed that his nine daughters were more talented than the muses. They had a contest, and the king lost. As punishment, the muses turned him into jackdaws. (Bolton) However, the muses also helped in settling conflicts. In one legend, Calliope was summoned by Zeus to decide whether Aphrodite or Persephone would get Adonis. She determined that he would spend half the year which each woman. ([|Atsma]) ====

====If an individual wanted or needed inspiration, they would call upon the muses, or one specific muse, by saying “O, Muse!” The muse would then decide if they wanted to grant them inspiration. Homer, the author of the //Iliad// and the //Odyssey// calls on the muses in the beginning of both stories. The muses inspired artists, philosophers, poets, and musicians. Without them, many of the Greek stories would not have been inspired or written. (Bryant) ====

====The muses encouraged many artists and poets, and were very important in recording Greek history. The nine muses of Greek mythology served as inspiration to artists and those with scholarly pursuits. They were born to Zeus and Mnemosyne, and had children who were exceptionally gifted in music and the arts. Each muse was assigned a specific sphere, and they all have a symbol pertaining to that specialty. The muses were gentle and kind, but when they were challenged the punishments were severe. They inspired many great poets including Homer, the author of the //Odyssey.// ====

Works Cited

Atsma, Aaron J. "CALLIOPE : Greek Goddess, Muse of Epic Poetry ; Mythology ; Pictures : KALLIOPE." //THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art//. Aaron J Atsma. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. []. Atsma, Aaron J. "CLIO : Greek Goddess, Muse of History ; Mythology ; Pictures : KLEIO." //THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art//. Aaron J Atsma. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. []. Atsma, Aaron J. "ERATO : Greek Goddess, Muse of Erotic Poetry & Mime ; Mythology." //THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art//. Aaron J Atsma. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. []. Atsma, Aaron J. "EUTERPE : Greek Goddess, Muse of Lyric Poetry ; Mythology ; Pictures." //THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art//. Aaron J Atsma. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. []. Atsma, Aaron J. "MELPOMENE : Greek Goddess, Muse of Tragedy Plays ; Mythology ; Pictures." //THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art//. Aaron J Atsma. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. []. Atsma, Aaron J. "POLYMNIA : Greek Goddess, Muse of Hymns ; Mythology ; Pictures : POLYHYMNIA." //THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art//. Aaron J Atsma. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. []. Atsma, Aaron J. "TERPSICHORE : Greek Goddess, Muse of Choral Song & Dance ; Mythology ; Pictures : TERPSIKHORE." //THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art//. Aaron J Atsma. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. []. Atsma, Aaron J. "THALIA : Greek Goddess, Muse of Comedy & Idyllic Poetry ; Mythology ; Pictures : THALEIA." //THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art//. Aaron J Atsma. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. []. Atsma, Aaron J. "URANIA : Greek Goddess, Muse of Astronomy ; Mythology : OURANIA." //THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art//. Aaron J Atsma. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. []. Bolton, Lesley. //The Everything Classical Mythology Book: Greek and Roman Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters from Ares to Zeus//. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2002. Print. Bryant, Megan E. //She's All That!: a Look-it-up Guide to the Goddesses of Mythology//. New York: Franklin Watts/Scholastic, 2010. Print. "The Muses." //Women in Greek Myths//. 26 Feb. 2006. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. []. Way, By The. "The Nine Muses of the Greek Mythology." //Greek Myths - Greek Mythology//. Greek Myths & Greek Mythology. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. <http://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/nine-muses