Tora

Muses

What is a Muse?

A Muse is defined as a person or a personified force that serves as the source of inspiration for any given subject.

Who are the Muses?

According to Greek Mythology, the Muses were the nine Goddesses who presided over the Arts and Sciences. They are the daughters of Zeus and the Titan Mnemosyne (Memory). The Muses provided inspiration in a number of subjects.
The Muses are (in alphabetical order): Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania. Each Muse has her own specialty, or her own domain, as each Muse presides over a specific artistic or scientific area.
  • Calliope is known to be the protector of poetic works, the rhetoric arts, music and writing. It is said that Calliope inspired Homer as he wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey.
  • Clio is known to be the protector of history and the guitar.
  • Erato is known to be the protector of lyrical and love poetry.
  • Euterpe is known to be the protector of song and poetry of death, love, and war. It is said that she created many musical instruments and inspires beautiful music.
  • Melpomene is known to be the protector of the Tragedies. Melpomene is credited as the creator of rhetoric speech and the melodies of tragedy.
  • Polyhymnia is known to be the protector of divine hymns. Polyhymnia is also credited as the creator of geometry and grammar.
  • Terpsichore is known to be the protector of the dances. She also is credited for the creation of the harp and education.
  • Thalia is known to be the protector of comedy, the sciences (i.e. geometry, architecture, agriculture) and symposiums.
  • Urania is known to be the protector of celestial bodies. She is said to be the creator of astronomy.