9 MUSES ~ THE GREEK GODDESSES OF ARTS AND KNOWLEDGE

The Nine Muses of the Greek Religion are deities that give artists, philosophers and common people the necessary inspiration for creation. They are daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the Greek Goddess of memory.

These  Goddesses were raised by God Apollo himself, who helped Them express their tendency for the Arts.  Ever since, the Muses support and encourage creation, enhancing imagination and inspiration in mortals.All the ancient writers appeal to the Muses at the beginning of their work. 

Muses And Arts

According to the Greek Religion, two of the Muses invented theory and practice in learning, three Muses invented the musical vibrations in Lyre and five muses the five human senses. Seven muses invented the seven chords of the lyre, the seven celestial zones, the seven planets and the seven vocals of the Greek Alphabet.

Analytically, The Nine Muses are:

1. Clio: She created history and the guitar. History was named Clio in ancient times, because it refers to “kleos”-  the Greek word for the heroic acts. Clio was always represented with a clarion in the right arm and a book in the left hand.

2. Euterpe: She created several musical instruments, courses and dialectic. She was always depicted holding a flute, while many instruments were always around her.

3. Thalia: She is the patron of comedy; she created comedy, geometry, architectural science and agriculture. She is also protector of Symposiums. She was always depicted holding a theatrical comedy mask.

4. Melpomene: Opposite from Thalia,  Melpomene is the protector of Tragedy; she invented tragedy, rhetoric speech and Melos. She was depicted holding a tragedy mask and usually bearing a bat.

5. Terpsichore: She is the protector of dance; she invented dances, the harp and education. She is called Terpsichore because she was enjoying and having fun with dancing ( “Terpo” in Greek refers to be amused). She was depicted wearing laurels on her head, holding a harp and dancing.

6. Erato: She is the patron of Love and Love Poetry, as well as wedding. Her name comes from the Greek word “Eros” that refers to the feeling of falling in love. She was depicted holding a lyre and love arrows and bows.

7. Polymnia: She is the protector of the divine hymns and mimic art; she invented geometry and grammar. She was depicted looking up to the Sky, holding a lyre.

8. Ourania: She is the protector of the celestial objects and stars; she invented astronomy. She was always depicted bearing stars, a celestial sphere and a bow compass.

9. Calliope: Muse Calliope is the superior Muse. She was accompanying kings and princes in order to impose justice and serenity. She is the protector of heroic poems and rhetoric art. According to the myth, Homer asks from Calliope to inspire him while writing Iliad and Odyssey, and, thus, Calliope is depicted holding laurels in one hand and the two Homeric poems in the other hand.

The Nine Muses have been inspiring artists and writers since the antiquity and there are countless paintings, poems and other works of art dedicated to them. The seeking of their favour and gifts is something that continues to this modern age.