RWAAG Home, Muses-->
Advertisement:
Muses related Art and Items for Purchase
Shop in a catalog of almost everything
Discounts, Sales, Specials, and Savings available from offers on the Internet
If you click above and follow the links to a purchase then this site receives a commission for its support.
The name 'μουσ̃α' is an Indo-European word from '5. mē-, mō-, mə-', 'to be intent; of strong will' and 'sā-, sə-', 'enough, satiate, sufficient'. In the first line of the Odyssey the word 'μου̂σα' appears. Originally the word seems to have been singular. The first word of the Theogony is 'μουσάων. Here the Muses are plural. Hesiod even names them in the Theogony line 75. Though the Muses are not assigned to fields of endeavor, the names are suggestive. The Greek word 'Mousa' is listed as the root of the English word 'music'.
A Muse with a lyre
Muses: (Presided over the arts and sciences and inspired those who excelled in these pursuits).
Since every Muse is translatable as an Indo-European word it might be assumed that these goddesses were part of the Indo-European pantheon after they arrived in Greece and before they were influenced by the Minoans or other culture local to Greece.
A Muse with a Barbiton
Hesiod, in his Works and Days says the following about the Muses:
(ll. 1-10) 'Muses of Pieria who give glory through song, come hither, tell of Zeus your father and chant his praise. crossed over to Chalcis, to the games of wise Amphidamas where the sons of the great-hearted hero proclaimed and appointed prizes. And there I boast that I gained the victory with a song and carried off an handled tripod which I dedicated to the Muses of Helicon, in the place where they first set me in the way of clear song. Such is all my experience of many-pegged ships; nevertheless I will tell you the will of Zeus who holds the aegis; for the Muses have taught me to sing in marvellous song.'
Hesiod, in his Theogony says the following about the Muses: (ll. 1-25) 'From the Heliconian Muses let us begin to sing, who hold the great and holy mount of Helicon, and dance on soft feet about the deep-blue spring and the altar of the almighty son of Cronos, and, when they have washed their tender bodies in Permessus or in the Horse's Spring or Olmeius, make their fair, lovely dances upon highest Helicon and move with vigorous feet. Thence they arise and go abroad by night, veiled in thick mist, and utter their song with lovely voice, praising Zeus the aegis- holder and queenly Hera of Argos who walks on golden sandals and the daughter of Zeus the aegis-holder bright-eyed Athene, and Phoebus Apollo, and Artemis who delights in arrows, and Poseidon the earth-holder who shakes the earth, and reverend Themis and quick-glancing (1) Aphrodite, and Hebe with the crown of gold, and fair Dione, Leto, Iapetus, and Cronos the crafty counsellor, Eos and great Helius and bright Selene, Earth too, and great Oceanus, and dark Night, and the holy race of all the other deathless ones that are for ever. And one day they taught Hesiod glorious song while he was shepherding his lambs under holy Helicon, and this word first the goddesses said to me -- the uses of Olympus, daughters of Zeus who holds the aegis...'
Notice that Hesiod is saying somthing about the nature of poetry and art from the ancient Greek point of view. Making poetry is a sacred activity and one must be cleansed to participate. Next he says that the idea of poetry and art is to praise the divinities. He mentions more than the tradional twelve deities.
(ll. 26-28) `'Shepherds of the wilderness, wretched things of shame, mere bellies, we know how to speak many false things as though they were true; but we know, when we will, to utter true things.''
Hesiod here emphasizes the desire for poetry to reflect the truth.
(ll. 29-35) 'So said the ready-voiced daughters of great Zeus, and they plucked and gave me a rod, a shoot of sturdy laurel, a marvellous thing, and breathed into me a divine voice to celebrate things that shall be and things there were aforetime; and they bade me sing of the race of the blessed gods that are eternally, but ever to sing of themselves both first and last. But why all this about oak or stone?' (2)
What Hesiod here receives is a talking stick. A talking stick is often used to indicate in a group who has the right to speak. The suggestion here is that he has been given the right to talk for the muses.
(ll. 36-52) 'Come thou, let us begin with the Muses who gladden the great spirit of their father Zeus in Olympus with their songs, telling of things that are and that shall be and that were aforetime with consenting voice. Unwearying flows the sweet sound from their lips, and the house of their father Zeus the loud-thunderer is glad at the lily-like voice of the goddesses as it spread abroad, and the peaks of snowy Olympus resound, and the songs, telling of things that are and that shall be and that were aforetime with consenting voice. Unwearying flows the sweet sound from their lips, and the house of their father Zeus the loud-thunderer is glad at the lily-like voice of the goddesses as it spread abroad, and the peaks of snowy Olympus resound, and the homes of the immortals. And they uttering their immortal voice, celebrate in song first of all the reverend race of the gods from the beginning, those whom Earth and wide Heaven begot, and the gods sprung of these, givers of good things. Then, next, the goddesses sing of Zeus, the father of gods and men, as they begin and end their strain, how much he is the most excellent among the gods and supreme in power. And again, they chant the race of men and strong giants, and gladden the heart of Zeus within Olympus, -- the Olympian Muses, daughters of Zeus the aegis-holder.'
Here Hesiod explains that the deities delight in poetry especially when it is for their praise.
(ll. 53-74) 'Them in Pieria did Mnemosyne (Memory), who reigns over the hills of Eleuther, bear of union with the father, the son of Cronos, a forgetting of ills and a rest from sorrow. For nine nights did wise Zeus lie with her, entering her holy bed remote from the immortals. And when a year was passed and the seasons came round as the months waned, and many days were accomplished, she bare nine daughters, all of one mind, whose hearts are set upon song and their spirit free from care, a little way from the topmost peak of snowy Olympus. There are their bright dancing-places and beautiful homes, and beside them the Graces and Himerus (Desire) live in delight. And they, uttering through their lips a lovely voice, sing the laws of all and the goodly ways of the immortals, uttering their lovely voice. Then went they to Olympus, delighting in their sweet voice, with heavenly song, and the dark earth resounded about them as they chanted, and a lovely sound rose up beneath their feet as they went to their father. And he was reigning in heaven, himself holding the lightning and glowing thunderbolt, when he had overcome by might his father Cronos; and he essed gods who inhabit Olympus, at once he forgets his heaviness and remembers not his sorrows at all; but the gifts of the goddesses soon turn him away from these.'
In this context Hesiod explains that the nature of things results from thoughts in the mind of Zeus and that whe learn of that nature through our memory. Thus the Muses, who sing of the nature of things, result from a marriage of the thoughts of Zeus and of our memory of those thoughts. Furthermore the nature of poetry itself includes grace and desire. Thus we desire things that are beautiful like poetry. The ability of poetry to divert one from thepains of life is recognized.
{ll. 75-78) 'These things, then, the Muses sang who dwell on Olympus, nine daughters begotten by great Zeus, Cleio and Euterpe, Thaleia, Melpomene and Terpsichore, and Erato and Polyhymnia and Urania and Calliope,'
Notice that though Hesiod names the Muses, he does not assign to each an individual task. During the Roman period tasks were given to the individual Muses.
(ll. 79-104) 'Calliope, who is the chiefest of them all, [80] for she attends on worshipful princes: whomever of heaven-nourished princes the daughters of great Zeus honor and behold at his birth, they pour sweet dew upon his tongue, and from his lips flow gracious words. All the people [85] look towards him while he settles causes with true judgements: and he, speaking surely, would soon make wise end even of a great quarrel; for therefore are there princes wise in heart, because when the people are being misguided in their assembly, they set right the matter again [90] with ease, persuading them with gentle words. And when he passes through a gathering, they greet him as a god with gentle reverence, and he is conspicuous amongst the assembled: such is the holy gift of the Muses to men. For it is through the Muses and far-shooting Apollo that [95] there are singers and harpers upon the earth; but princes are of Zeus, and happy is he whom the Muses love: sweet flows speech from his mouth. For although a man has sorrow and grief in his newly-troubled soul and lives in dread because his heart is distressed, yet, when a singer, [100] the servant of the Muses, chants the glorious deeds of men of old and the blessed gods who inhabit Olympus, at once he forgets his heaviness and remembers not his sorrows at all; but the gifts of the goddesses soon turn him away from these.'
Here Hesiod seems to be hoping that a prince will be influence by the history contained in poetry so he can make fairer judgements.
From the Odyssey (book 24, line 60)the musical skill of the Myses is made clear, "And the Muses, nine in all, replying to one another with sweet voices, led the dirge. There couldst thou not have seen an Argive but was in tears, so deeply did the clear-toned Muse move their hearts."
Also interesting is the type of material that the Muses are involved with. The Muses have some similarity with the Maenads who also sing and dance. Euripides in The Bacchae has Teiresias say "This god too hath prophetic power, for there is no small prophecy inspired by Bacchic frenzy; for whenever the god in his full might enters the human frame, he makes his frantic votaries foretell the future." Hesiod says the Muses are concerned with "celebrat(ing) things that shall be" yet prophesy does not seem to be in the realm of the Muses. Rather they focus on history, and the stories of the deities.
Aeschines in Against Timarchus, Speech 1, Section 10, states that Solon regulated the festivals of the Muses.
Aeschylus has Prometheus state that he "...invented for (men) ... the combining of letters, creative mother of the Muses' arts, with which to hold all things in memory." Prometheus Bound, line 461.
The muses have their own stories(myths)
Euripides, in the Bacchae states "to Pieria, beautiful seat of the Muses, the holy slope of Olympus.", line 410
Name Meaning of Name Domain Symbols Calliope The Fair Voiced Epic Poetry Writing Tablet Clio The Proclaimer History Scroll Erato The Lovely Love Poetry Lyre Euterpe The Giver of Pleasure Music Flute Melpomene The Songstress Tragedy Tragic Mask Polyhymnia She of Many Hymns Sacred Poetry Pensive Look Terpsichore The Whirler Dancing Dancing with Lyre Thalia The Flourishing Comedy Comic Mask Urania The Heavenly Astronomy Celestial Globe
Invoking the Muse
An artist evokes the Muse when that artist is in a situation to produce great art. Homer evoked the Muse and he produced the Iliad. If you can sit down and write a song that people will sing 3000 years from now then you have evoked the Muse. Perhaps the Muse whispers it in your ear, or perhaps she implants it in your dreams, or it appears out of thin air. Or most likely it is plodded out word by word with many corrections and the Muse reveals it only a word at a time. Worse yet, you may have to write many songs, all failures, until, in a fit of extreme desperation the Muse finally comes to you, but all you get is the words for a song that everyone forgets after a year. I like to do visual art. Many peaople say they cannot do art, and the Muse never comes. Every once in a while I do a piece of art and someone likes it and buys it and treasures it in their house, and I see the Muse, and she is one of the most beautiful creatures there is.
To ask a question about this topic note the topic (Muses) and Click here
Question: how do the muses dress?
Answer: For a picture of the Muses: Click here They are dressed in their party clothes because they are always singing and dancing.
Question: Is there a woman named Caliope anywhere in the books or is she from somewhere else?
Answer: Calliope is one of the Muses. And Hesiod says: "(ll. 75-103) These things, then, the Muses sang who dwell on Olympus, nine daughters begotten by great Zeus, Cleio and Euterpe, Thaleia, Melpomene and Terpsichore, and Erato and Polyhymnia and Urania and Calliope (3), who is the chiefest of them all, for she attends on worshipful princes: whomsoever of heaven-nourished princes the daughters of great Zeus honour, and behold him at his birth, they pour sweet dew upon his tongue, and from his lips flow gracious words."
Question: which of the muses would be considered the muse of art, as in painting or sculpture?
Answer: The Muse of painting and Sculpture is often taken to be Athena, the gooddess of arts and crafts.
Johannes Vermeer felt the Muse of history was the the muse of painting. See a discussion at: Click here
William Hogarth felt the Muse of Comedy was the the muse of painting. See a painting at: Click here
For Francisco Goya his muse was Leocadia Zorrilla. See a discussion at: Click here
For William Wegmen a muse is anything that gives you the idea of what to paint. See a discussion at: Click here
Question: What is the name of the greek god or goddess of music.....and can i see a picture??
Answer: Apollo is the God of Music and the 9 muses collectively were the goddesses of music.
Question: muses are said to give ideas to writers or musicians by their presence....is that true??
Answer: Yes, except they do not have to be present.
Question: what does the name Muse mean???
Answer: The mindful ones.
Question: Whowhere they and what did they do
Answer: They were goddesses who provided artistic and poetic inspiration.
Question: Why are muses considered myths?
Answer: The first writings about the Muses came from early poets. Though the early Greeks recognized that these writings were not literally true still they preserved them because of their reference to actions and behaviors that were desirable. Strictly myths are stroies that originate in a pre-literate society. They include stories of ancestors, heroes, and even supernatural beings that describe appropriate behavior in the society in which they are preserved. The ancient Greeks recognized that these stories, for them, were contained in poetry that had been passed down from previous generations. From this observation came the notion of poetic license where a poet is allowed to deviate from facts and conventions to make a better sounding poem.
Question: Can you tell me more about Erato?
Answer: Here is a modern picture of her: Click here
Question: Can you tell me more about Terpsichore and the myth of choreography?
Answer: The Muses were not dealt with separately until Roman times.
Question: Terpsichore
Answer: Terpsichore
Question: I need some info on Thalia and a picture of her
Answer: Thalia was the mother of Corybantes. a web page about Thalia is at: Click here
Question: Which Muse is mentioned in one of Homer's works?
Answer: Homer references Muses as follows:
Sometimes he references one, and sometimes he references them all, but he never calls one by name.
Question: Apollo was said to have had affairs with some of his Muses. True or false?
Answer: I find no evidence of it.
Question: In one of Homer's hymns to Artemis, he said she goes to Apollo's house in Delphi to order the Muses but i thought the Muses were supposed to live on Olympus?
Answer: Hesiod refers to them as the Muses of Helicon. Helicon is a mountain in southwestern Boetia, Greece. This mountain is believed to be the home of the Muses.
Question: What are the roman names of the muses?
Answer: The Romans kept the same names
Answer: Pegasus was the winged horse in Greek mythology that caused the stream Hippocrene, the fountain of the Muses, to spring from Mount Helicon with a blow of his mighty hoof.
Question: was there more than 9 muses
Answer: The ancient Greeks only admitted to 9. Plato said that Sappho was the tenth Muse as a tribute to this ancient poet's ability.
Question: I have to do a school report on Clio. I can not find any good reasources on her personally, can you recomend any?? Thanks
Answer: Apollodorus has some information about Kleio at: Click here.
Question: why are they describes as "forteiings of evils'?
Answer: I cannot find any association of the muses with foretellings or evils. But as goddesses they were supposed to have the gift of prophesy.
Question: What cities were important in the life and loves of the muses?
Answer: Of all the cities of ancient Greece they favored Athens the most. Mt. Helicon was sacred to them.
Question: galetea
Answer: Homer refers to the "famous sea-nymph Galatea" in the Iliad as one who accompanies Thetis in Book XVIII. In the Theogony, Hesiod speaks of her as the comely daughter of Nereus and Doris(ll. 240-264). The Roman poet Ovid speaks at length about this Galatea, but, though he talks about Pygmalion, He never metions that his sculpted wife is also named Galatea.
Question: favouriet haunts on mount hellicon
Answer: A spring named Aganippe and another named Hippocrene are both on Helicon. At the foot of Mt. Helicon was Thespiae where they had a temple and statues.
Question: How can Thalia be both a Muse and a Grace? Why is she name as both?
Answer: There are four different Thalias in mythology:
'Thalia' means abundance and so was a popular name.
Question: can you find ne some info on erato, The Muses?
Answer: There is very little information about the individual Muses in Greek literature because the Greeks did not distinguish them.
Question: What kind of clothes did they wear during alexander the greats life-we need pictures?
Answer: The relevant dates are 356-323 BCE.
Question: How are their names pronunced
Answer: Cal-LI-o-pe, CLI-o, ER-a-to, Eu-TER-pe, Mel-POM-e-ne, Pol-y-HYM-ni-a, Terp-SICH-o-re, Tha-LI- a, U-RA-ni-a
Question: Is there just one muse for memory or are all of them?
Answer: Mnemnosyne, a titanides, is the goddess of memory and the mother of the Muses.
Question: What is the function of the Muses invocation throughout the illiad?
Answer: Normally one cannot know of the deities because to do so would make one like a deity. Information of the deities must be encrypted for mortals. But truth about the deities is required by mortals. Invocation of the Muse allows some truth about the deities to be known. The Muse reveals just as much truth as is appropriate to the invoker and his/her situation. An invocation is a calling upon a divine being for assistance. This is quite an old concept since the root of the word 'invoke' is the Indo-European 'wekw-', 'To speak'.
Question: I want to know more about Euterpe.Thanks!
Answer: Click here.
The Muses: Clio, Euterpe and Thalia
Question: I would like to know how to write urania in ancient greek
Answer: Ὀὐρανίη
Question: Where do the muses live? What were their birthdays? Who is their employer?
Answer: The Muses live on Olympus in the palace of Zeus. You might say that Apollo is their employer since they often formed his chorus. But you might also say that any poet or artist employs them when they are invoked. Mnemosyne was Titan goddess of memory and remembrance and she is credited with inventing language and words. For this reason she is presented as the mother of the Muses. Birthdays are causes of festivals but I find no birthays specifically mentioned for the Muses. All festivals at which there is poetry, song and dance could be considered birthdays of the Muses. More information about the Muses can be found at click here
Advertisement:
Buying links: Art Supplies and Original Art -- Audio Books -- Auto Parts and Accessories -- eBooks(books in digital form) -- Traditional Books -- Business to Business -- Collectibles -- College and Education -- Computer HW(Hardware) -- Computer SW(Software) -- Construction and Built-in Decoration of Homes -- Consumer Electronics -- Cosmetics and Fragrances -- Costumes and Party Goods -- Events -- Furniture and Removable Decoration of Homes -- Games -- Garden and Flowers -- Gifts -- Groceries, Gourmet Food, and Wine -- Hair Care -- Handbags and Luggage -- Health Food -- Hotels -- Jewelry -- Kitchen and Dining -- Malls and Virtual Malls -- Men's -- Movies/DVD's -- Music -- Outdoors -- Photo -- Posters, Prints and Painting Reproductions -- Shoes -- Teens -- Toys -- Travel -- Women's -- Geschäft in Europa -- United Kingdom Vendors --
If you click above and follow the links to a purchase then this site receives a commission for its support.
RWAAG Home, Muses-->
Origin ? last changed 20090506, 20120210
