THE 9 GREEK MUSES, THEIR ORIGIN AND TRAITS - HISTORY - 2025

The Greek muses were one of the divinities that abounded in Ancient Greece and had less power than the gods of Olympus. These are young maidens who have been the inspiration of different creators for centuries.

This is so because in Greek mythology they were considered sources of inspiration for poetry, music, rhetoric, dance and exact sciences such as history and astronomy. It was Hesiod who defined that they were nine muses, giving each one a name as well as a clear particular description according to their virtues.

Calliope, one of the 9 Greek muses. Source: Cesare Dandini

This has been the Greek tradition of Hesiod that has transcended to the present day, in which the muses are still invoked with some frequency to inspire creators in various fields of knowledge.

Origin

There is a tradition that differs from that of Hesiod, which indicates that there were only three muses: Aedea, who was the inspiration for singing and everything related to the voice; Meletea is considered the muse of meditation; and Mnemea is the muse of memory.

Although there was no clear certainty of how many muses existed, it was the tradition of Hesiod that consolidated them into nine muses, when in the 7th century BC. C. wrote the Theogony

The nine muses were born from nine nights of love between Zeus, the father of all the Olympian gods, and Mnemoside, who is known as the goddess of memory. Under the genealogy that Hesiod raises, the nine muses are granddaughters of Uranus and Gaia; that is to say, of earth and sky.

Lifestyle

In Greek mythology there is also no unanimity on the lifestyle of the muses. For example, in tradition it is said that they were inhabitants of Mount Parnasso and Zeus, their father, gave them Pegasus, the winged horse that carried them on their many trips.

It is also known that they lived in the Helicon, it was there where they made up the Apollo choir. What is clear throughout Greek mythology is that the muses were the inspirers of those areas that were fundamental to the Greeks, such as the exact arts and sciences.

Some experts are struck by the fact that there is no muse in Greek mythology for the visual arts such as painting, architecture or sculpture.

Scholars of Greek culture assure that this is due to the fact that in the Greek tradition a special importance was given to those manifestations that were linked with time, since in an instant everything changes and develops.

The 9 muses of Hesiod

In Theogony, Hesiod relates how it was thanks to the presence of the nine muses that he became a poet. Thus, in his poetry he describes the origin and peculiarities of each muse that makes up the Greek tradition.

Given their connection with music, tradition affirms that the nine muses were part of Apollo's entourage (god of music) and that they frequently appear at the gods' festivals to sing different songs.

His first song was to honor the gods when in a fierce and momentous battle they defeated the Titans.

It is also said in mythology that the muses are the companions of the kings, since it is they who provide them with the inspiration that the leaders need so that their speeches have the precise words, as well as so that they can have the lucidity necessary to exercise their functions of government and benefit their peoples.

The nine muses that the Hesiod tradition collects are the following:

Calliope

It is the greatest because it is the one that appears first in the Theogony. It is said that she is the most powerful and is known for her beautiful voice.

She is the muse of the word, so she inspires those who are dedicated to eloquence, epic poetry and beauty. She is represented with a stylus and a writing board.

The pre-eminence of Calliope over his sisters shows that in Greece the importance and impetus of epic poetry was given greater importance and therefore poets resorted to his help for inspiration.

However, this was not his only power, because in the tradition of Hesiod he was assigned the task of accompanying the kings so that the best words, the most beautiful and with a sense of opportunity would flow from them.

For this reason, Calliope is represented repeatedly wearing a golden crown, because he lived among kings; in addition, she also wears a garland for her main role compared to those of her sisters.

Clio

Clio (detail) by Johannes Vermeer.

She is the muse of history and is credited with introducing the alphabet in Phenicia. In her multiple representations, she is usually seen as a young woman who carries a scroll as a symbol of the writing of history and a trumpet, since she is also known as a giver of honors since she is "the one who offers glory."

Some representations also include the presence of a globe and, in some way, the incorporation of time. According to experts, this means that history is the responsibility of everyone and for all time.

Euterpe

Musa Euterpe, by Handmann.

She is properly the muse of music and is known as the one who invented the flute, for this reason she is usually represented with a double or simple flute.

However, many scholars claim that it was Athena who invented the double flute or the aulos. Despite this divergence, Euterpe is the protector of the flute players.

Her name means "the very nice one" or the one with "good spirits" which refers to her good character.

Was

She is known as the muse that inspires lyrical poetry, the one dedicated to love, because her name refers to "the loving one."

In the representations he usually wears on his head a headdress of roses and a zither or a lyre to set the verses to music. Also in some representations an arrow is present that connects her with Eros, another protagonist in the binomial of love.

Melpomene

Muse Melpomene, by Simmons-Highsmith

She is the goddess of tragedy although she was initially known as the goddess of song, because her name means "the melodious one." It is usually represented carrying a mask of a tragic sign; he also wears a crown and many times a sword.

She is the muse par excellence of the theater, thanks to the fact that in Greece tragedy was the favorite genre to be represented.

Some experts consider that Melpomene is the image of frustration, because a myth tells that he had everything to be happy: wealth, beauty and men at his feet. From there it follows that she condenses the true tragedy of life; the drama of having everything and not being able to be happy.

Polyymnia

She is known as the muse of rhetoric, which is why she is represented with a severe and serious gesture, and generally accompanied by a musical instrument that is usually an organ.

As for the attitude, it is usually represented in a meditative gesture, reflecting, and in some cases wears a veil to show its sacred character.

She is also the one that inspires pantomime and lyrical and sacred poetry. In some myths it is explained that she was the one who taught agriculture to men.

Thalia

Musa Talía, by Guffens

Known as the muse who inspires comedy and bucolic poetry. All this is derived from its name "Talía", which means "flowering" or "rich festivity".

Generally, in artistic representations he has a comic mask and a shepherd's cane; In addition, it is topped by ivy or an arrangement of wild flowers.

In some myths he was assigned an important role by presiding over banquets and large celebrations, which he honored with gifts of abundance and fertility.

Terpsichore

Roman statue of Terpsichore found at Hadrian's Villa. Prado Museum (Madrid). Ana Belén Cantero Paz

It is represented with a young, agile and very slender figure since it is the muse of dance, as well as choral poetry and choirs in general. In representations, he usually carries a lyre and a garland.

In a certain mythological tradition it is affirmed that Terpsichore was the mother of mermaids, other mythological beings of incredible beauty that inhabited the seas and who seduced sailors until they dragged them to death.

Urania

The muses Urania and Calliope, by Simon Vouet.

She is one of the nine muses who is devoted to science; In this case, it is about astronomy and astrology. It is known from mythology that she is the least of the nine muses.

Its existence shows that in ancient Greece astronomy occupied a preponderant place in life, so that astronomers had their own muse to obtain the necessary inspiration from it.

In art they usually represent Urania wearing a blue tunic that represents the sky; In addition, it has a compass to measure and has a globe very closely. Its head is crowned with stars to show that it is a source of inspiration for astronomers and astrologers.

In some representations she is also seen with other mathematical objects, which is why it is also claimed that she is the muse of mathematics and of all exact sciences.

References

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4. "Greek Muses" (December 27, 2008) in 20 minutes. Retrieved on February 9, 2019 from 20 minutes: lists.20minutos.es
5. "Muse" in Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved on February 9, 2019 from Encyclopedia Britannica: britannica.com
6. Villar, M. «The history of Urania, muse of astronomy» (November 13, 2009) in El País. Retrieved on February 9, 2019 from El País: elpais.com