The Nine Muses of Ancient Greece

The Nine Muses of Ancient Greek Mythology were those who inspired the greatest art, music, poetry, and even scholarship in mortal men (and women). It was their divine voices who whispered into the ear of the artists, speaking the words of inspiration which emerged in silence of their minds, becoming their greatest work.

In ancient Greece it was common practice to begin their works with a small prayer to the Nine Muses (or to their mother Mnemosyne) in the hopes that they would inspire their minds and fill their work with divine energy and skill. Homer did just this in both the Iliad and Odyssey.

Below are he Nine Muses by name and the branch of art that they were over time attached to (with a more complete list of their qualities and associations found at the end of this article):

1. Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry
2. Clio, the Muse of History
3. Euterpe, the Muse of Music and Lyric Poetry
4. Thalia, the Muse of Comedy
5. Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy
6. Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance
7. Erato, the Muse of Love Poetry
8. Polymnia, the Muse of Hymns (Sacred Poetry)
9. Ourania, the Muse of Astronomy and Celestial Objects

Mnemosyne :: The Mother of the Nine Muses

The Nine Muses were daughters of the great Zeus and a Titaness by the name of Mnemosyne (Μνημοσύνη, pronounced something like Ne-mo-SEE-ne). Zeus is said to have come across Mnemosyne while in the form of a young mortal shepherd, in which form he seduced her.

Together they lay writhing for nine consecutive nights of ecstatic love-making, which is why she conceived nine lovely daughters at the same time, who became the Nine Muses.

Mnemosyne was the daughter of the Titans Ouranos (Uranus) and Gaia, whose names literally means “Heaven” and “Earth”, respectively, a child of the fundamental forces of creation. This makes Mnemosyne the aunt of Zeus, since she is the daughter of the siblings of Zeus’ father Cronos.

Mnemosyne is the Goddess of Memory. Even her name stems from the Greek word μνήμη (mneme) which means memory or remembrance. As legend goes her flawless memory stretches all the way back to the beginning, to the very dawn of creation, for as the daughter of Earth and Sky, she was there to witness it all.

In Ancient Greek religion those who have died were said to drink from the River Lethe in the land of Hades (Underworld) which caused forgetfulness so that they would not remember their past lives when reincarnated. Though initiates of Orphism were taught instead to drink from the River of Mnemosyne, the river of memory, which was believed to cease the cycle of rebirths in the transmigration of the soul. [1.2]

Mnemosyne, unlike many other Titans, was held in fair regard by the ancient Greeks. Individuals from Socrates to Homer were known to have evoked her name, so that she may grant them sharpness of memory, keenness of mind, and power of speech when they needed it. For calling her name also evoked the power of the Nine Muses as she was their mother.

According to the Greek poet and author Hesiod in his famous work Theogony, the power to capture the mind and heart of mortals displayed by great kings and poets was due to the temporary possession of the king by Mnemosyne, which gave their words great power and charisma.

The Early Years of the Nine Muses

As her 9 daughters grew, she fascinated and educated them with the most illustrious and fantastic tales that she knew. Mnemosyne searched her long memory and recounted all the things she saw, describing to her young daughters the creation of the world, the cosmic power of the titans, her kin and their ancestors, each by name.

She told them of the fearsome Titan Cronos. How he had heard that one of his children would rise to overthrow him, and how he ate each of his children to prevent this from every happening. But powerful Zeus was hidden away from his father by his mother, raised in secret, and finally did overthrow him.

She told of the birth of the Olympians, the famous Twelve of the Greek Pantheon, their innumerable children (cousins and family of the Nine Muses), their deeds and their misdeeds. Tales of heroism and glory, tales of laughter and silliness, tales of tragedy, and some tales that seemed to mean nothing at all, but captured the heart all the same.

These stories enlivened the minds of the lovely young Nine Muses, and they cared for little else. They drank poetry, sustained themselves with music, and breathed song. The heroes and tales of legend danced behind their eyes, in their imagination while they were awake and in their dreams while they slept.

When their mother was not telling them stories, they were telling them to one another. They spent their days in idyllic Greece of the old days when gods still ruled the world. They danced in the sand and surf, swam naked in the sea under the beating son or the soft, gentle moonlight.

They walked the forests and climbed the peaks near their home, all the while composing poems and songs based on the stories that they had heard, so that they could tell others of what had been, so nothing would ever be forgotten.

Mastering Music and the Arts Under Apollo

Seeing their great potential in the arts Mnemosyne sent her daughters to the nymph Eufime and the God of Music, Apollo. Some traditions say that they were raised at Mount Parnasses. Others say they were brought to the old temple of Zeus on Mount Elikonas, or Mount Helicon, or on Mount Olympus itself.

Wherever he took them, under his tutelage they quickly mastered the arts, music, song, and poetry. Apollo taught them how to sing harmony, helping and advising them in their compositions to release each voice to its fullest potential.

As Apollo led the choir of the Nine Muses their beautiful music poured fourth from their hall. Like great waves of light, divine energy, and emotion their music poured down the mountainside. The sun shone brighter while they sang, and the plants grew, leaves reaching not towards the sun, but to the Nine Muses whose light was, to them, brighter than the sun. It is said that even the songbirds paused in their music to listen.

Each of the muses had their own speciality. Erato was the Muse of Lyrics, Euterpe the muse of Music, Thalia the muse of Comedy, Medomene the muse of Tragedy and Chorus, Terpsichore the muse of Dance, Urania the muse of Astronomy, Clio the muse of History, Polyhymnia the muse of Hymns, and Calliope the muse of Epic Poetry.

According to Greek Mythology, the Nine Muses also invented many arts of civilization, science, and scholarship. Two muses invented theories and techniques relating to the practice of learning, three invented the Lyre itself and music upon it, four invented the four dialects of the ancient Greek language (Attica, Ionian, Aeolian and Dorian), five fashioned the five senses so that art and beauty could be experienced in all forms, and seven invented the seven chords of the lyre, the seven celestial zones, the seven planets and the seven vocals of the Greek Alphabet. [1.3]

Calliope & Orpheus

Calliope was the first-born and greatest of the Nine Muses. She had a son with either a mortal King of Thrace, or with Apollo himself, who in time found he could not resist her, young as she was when she came to him.

Their child became the famous Greek musician Orpheus. He was raised by the Nine Muses, their artistic inspiration infusing every fiber of his being, learning the art of music, song, and poetry at their feet.

By the time he was a young boy he could nearly sing as well as the Nine Muses themselves. Which is saying something, as for the skill of one with mortal blood to even approach that of nine full-blooded goddesses, even while he himself was half divine, it must be great indeed.

His voice was so beautiful, his music so penetrating, and his words so profound, that they could quell the rage within the breast of the most battle-mad warrior, tame the wilderness out of the wildest of beasts. All manner of creatures would flock to him a lay side-by-side at his feet, wolves with rabbits and lions with lambs, in complete harmony while his music played. It is said that trees would even pull up their roots to shuffle across the Earth, just to be nearer to his music. [1.1]

The Nine Muses

1. Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry: was named in Ancient Greece as the “Chief of all Muses”, regarded as both the wisest and most powerful. She was accompanying kings and princes in order to impose justice and serenity. She was the protector of heroic poems, such as Homer’s works, and is usually depicted with a writing tablet or book in hand.
2. Clio, the Muse of History: Her name Κλειώ means “to make famous” or “to celebrate” because ultimately this is what history was to the Ancient Greeks, as it was glorious, heroic deeds that earned one a place in history. Clio is often depicted with books of scrolls.
3. Erato, the Muse of Love Poetry: was the muse associated with love (from whence her name derives from, eros) and love poetry, though her name Ἐρατώ means “delight” and “lovely.” She was often depicted holding a lyre or a kithara.
4. Euterpe, the Muse of Music and Lyric Poetry: Her name Eὐτέρπη means “rejoicing well” and “delight” depicted generally with a variety of instruments, such as an Aulos (ancient Greek Flute) or pipes, appropriate as the Muse of Music. She was also known as “giver of delight.”
5. Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy: while later becoming the Muse of Tragedy, was originally the Muse of Chorus. Her name Μελπομένη in fact means nothing to do with tragedy, instead “to sing” or “the one who is melodious” which brings to mind a beautiful, graceful goddess rather than tragic, deriving from a verb meaning “to celebrate with dance and song”. She is depicted holding a tragedy mask in one hand, with a sword, bat, or dagger oftentimes in the other.
6. Polymnia, the Muse of Hymns, Sacred Poetry, and Agriculture: According to her nature she is depicted as somewhat serious and meditative, far-seeing might perhaps be a word to describe her expression. Her name Πολυύμνια means “The One of Many Hymns” from the Greek words πολοί (many) and ύμνος (hymn or praise). Her poetry is both sacred and immortal, in that under her dominion is also the greatest works which have “won immortal fame”. She also said to be the muse of geometry, meditation, and agriculture, as well as have invented grammar. She is often depicted with a long cloak, veil, or grapes.
7. Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance: She was the protector and inventor of dance (along with the harp and education), usually depicting dancing with a laurel adorning her head with harp in hand. he invented dances, the harp and education. Her name Τερψιχόρη means “delight in dancing” from the words τέρπω (“delight”) and χoρός (“dance”).
8. Thalia, the Muse of Comedy: The eighth-born of the Muses, the name of Θάλεια meant “the joyous” or “the flourishing” because her personality (and the branch of arts she was associated with) was considered to be joyful, exuberant, and light-hearted. She was generally depicted holding a theatrical (comedy) mask, wearing boots, and is also said to be associated with geometry, architecture, and agriculture. [1.3]
9. Ourania, the Muse of Astronomy and Celestial Objects: Her name Οὐρανία means “heavenly” or “of heaven” perhaps because of her beauty and grace, but also her association and preoccupation with the heavens and the stars. She is often depicted as adorned with stars, holding a celestial sphere and a bow compass.

Further Reading

1. Popular Reading
   1. D’aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths | Written by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’aulaire | 1962
   2. Mnemosyne | Wikipedia | 30 March 2020
   3. The Nine Muses of the Greek Mythology | Greek Myths & Greek Mythology | 30 March 2020
   4. Muses | Wikipedia | 30 March 2020
   5. Note: Mnemosyne presided over a pool in Hades according to a series of Greek funerary inscriptions from the 4th-century BC in dactylic hexameter.
   6. The Muses | www.greekmythology.com | 30 March 2020
   7. Mousai | www.theoi.com | 30 March 2020
2. Scholarly Reading