Muse (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Muses are revered as nine female deities who inspire creativity and joy through their artistic talents. Each Muse is associated with specific arts and sciences, including music, dance, astronomy, and poetry. The Muses are typically recognized as the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory, and were believed to reside on Mount Olympus, Mount Helicon, or Mount Parnassus. They are often depicted in ancient art holding symbols that represent their individual gifts: for example, Calliope symbolizes epic poetry, Clio represents history, and Euterpe is linked to lyric poetry.
The Muses play an integral role in many Greek myths, often judging artistic competitions and punishing those who challenge their abilities. Their influence was significant in Greek society, where music and dance were essential in various aspects of life, including education, ceremonies, and celebration. The Muses were highly respected, and their imagery frequently appeared in pottery, statues, and other art forms, reflecting their status as icons of beauty and inspiration in Greek culture.
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Muse (mythology)
A Muse is a female deity of Greek mythology known for inspiring joy and creativity with her artistic talents. Muses are considered the goddesses of arts and sciences such as music, dance, astronomy, and poetry. Greek mythology counts nine separate Muses in its texts: Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania. Each muse is gifted with a different artistic talent. All nine Muses referred to in Greek mythology are the daughters of the supreme deity Zeus and his lover Mnemosyne. Muses possess great beauty and often use their gifts to ease the troubles of gods and humankind. Muses are also capable of great retribution when they feel disrespected, as evidenced in several myths. Muses are often depicted in ancient artworks with an object that symbolizes their individual talents so viewers are able to distinguish them from one another.
Background
Although the genealogy of the Muses differs in various myths, most recognize Zeus—king of the Olympian gods—and Mnemosyne (Memory)—a female Titan—as the parents of these goddesses. Zeus's nine daughters were conceived when he and Mnemosyne made love for nine straight nights. Each muse was born with a special artistic talent as well as great beauty and charm. In many stories, the Muses are described as residing on Mount Olympus, where they entertain Zeus and his guests with their skills. Other records place them on Mount Helicon in Boeotia or Mount Parnassus at Delphi. The Muses have a special relationship with the god Apollo, who is often referred to as their Musagetes, or leader of the Muses. Apollo fathered children with several Muses. Some accounts name Apollo as the father of the legendary lyre player Orpheus, son of the Muse Calliope.
The Muses appear in many stories throughout Greek mythology. Several stories illustrate the group's distaste for insolence, punishing anyone who dares to challenge their artistic abilities. When the nine daughters of Pierus fail to outcompete the Muses in a musical contest, they are all turned into birds. The musician Thamyres also tries to beat the Muses in a musical contest and when he loses, the Muses blind him and take away his singing and musical talent. The Muses are also known to judge artistic competitions, at one time judging a musical competition between Apollo and the satyr Marsyas. Apollo easily bests Marsyas, who is flayed alive for having the audacity to challenge a god.
The Muses make an important appearance in Greek poet Hesiod's seminal work the Theogony, a poem detailing the origins of the Greek gods. The poet writes how the Muses gave him the divine gift of poetry and the ability to eloquently describe the history of the Greek gods. Hesiod's Theogony describes the Muses as aiding forgetful people and relieving people of their troubles with their gift of music and dance.
Overview
Each Muse was endowed with a unique artistic gift upon her birth and became the symbol of their gift in Greek mythology. The Muses are often depicted as possessing objects related to their gifts. Calliope, considered the most attractive and important of Muses, has a beautiful voice and is believed to represent epic poetry and rhetoric. She is often seen holding a wax tablet and a pencil in artistic renderings. Clio is the Muse of history and is usually pictured with a scroll in hand. Euterpe is the Muse of lyric poetry and song. She is known to bring delight to people and is often seen holding a flute in artworks.
Thalia is the Muse of comedy and bucolic, or pastoral, poetry. Her symbols include the comic mask, the shepherd's staff, and the ivy wreath. Melpomene is the Muse of tragedy and is often seen holding a tragic mask and ivy wreath. She is sometimes seen holding heroic objects such as a club or a sword. The Muse Terpsichore represents dancing and is commonly holding a lyre in depictions. Erato is the Muse of erotic poetry and is also seen with a smaller version of a lyre. Polymnia is the Muse of sacred song, often illustrated wearing a veil or looking thoughtful. Lastly, Urania is the Muse of astronomy, commonly pictured with a celestial globe by her side.
The Greeks had great respect for the Muses. Music was a very important element of Greek society. Music was present in almost every facet of Greek life, from the home to theaters to religious ceremonies to athletic games. Music was also a crucial component of military training. It was enjoyed during farming activities such as harvesting. Music was also a vital part of Greek education, and many people took joy in learning to sing and play instruments. Musical festivals were often held to honor the Muses. So inspiring were the Muses that philosophical schools named their institutions "Mouseia."
Depictions of the Muses are often found on fourth and fifth century BCE red-and-black figure pottery. This imagery usually features Apollo playing his kithara, a stringed instrument resembling a lyre. Illustrations of the stories involving the Muses' encounters with Marsyas and Thamyres are also a common theme. Many statues of Muses were found on the Greek island of Delos, a prominent center for the cult of Apollo. Muse imagery is also featured on funerary vases, as Greeks believed this would encourage the Muses to entertain deceased spirits with music and dancing in the afterlife. Muses were an iconic mage of beauty in Greek culture, representing an ideal female form.
Bibliography
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Hard, Robin. The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology. Routledge, 2004.
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