Very often in our lives we come across such phrases as: “visited by a muse”, “muse of poetry” and many others in which the word muse is mentioned. However, what does it mean? This concept comes from ancient mythology. The Greek muses are nine sisters, patronesses of the arts and sciences. They are the daughters of Zeus himself and each of them has their own unique divine abilities. Let's take a closer look at them.

So, as stated earlier, the muses are the daughters of Zeus and the Titanide Mnemosyne, who is the goddess of memory. The very word muses (muses) comes from the Greek word “thinking”. The muses were usually depicted as young and beautiful women. They had a prophetic gift and treated creative people favorably: poets, painters, actors, in every possible way encouraging and helping them in their activities. However, for special offenses, the muses could deprive a person of inspiration. To prevent this from happening, the ancient Greeks built special temples in honor of the muses, which were called museions. It is from this word that the word “museum” comes from. The patron saint of the muses themselves was the god Apollo. Let's now look at each of the muses in more detail.

Muse Calliope - muse of epic poetry

The name of this muse from Greek can be translated as “one with a beautiful voice.” According to Diodorus, this name arose at the moment when the “beautiful word” (kalen opa) was pronounced. She is the eldest daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne.

Calliope is the mother of Orpheus, the muse of heroic poetry and eloquence. It evokes a feeling of sacrifice, which encourages a person to overcome his selfishness and fear of fate. Calliope wears a golden crown on her brow - a sign that she dominates other muses, thanks to her ability to introduce a person to the first steps on the path to his liberation. Calliope was depicted with a waxed tablet or scroll and a slate stick in her hands - a stylus, which was a bronze rod, the pointed end of which was used to write text on a wax-covered tablet. The opposite end was made flat to erase what was written.

Muse Clio - patroness of history

The accompanying attributes of this muse are a scroll of parchment or a tablet - a board with writing. Clio reminds us of what a person can achieve and helps him find his purpose.

According to Diodorus, the name comes from the word “Kleos” - “glory”. The etymology of the name is “giver of glory.” From Pierre, the Greek muse Clio had a son, Hyakinthos. Love for Pierre was inspired by Aphrodite for condemning her love for Adonis.

Muse Melpomene - muse of tragedy

In Greek mythology, Melpomene is considered the muse of the tragic genre. The name, according to Diodorus, means “melody that pleases listeners.” The image is anthropomorphic - it was described as a woman with a bandage, grape or ivy wreath on her head. Always has permanent attributes in the form of a tragic mask, sword or club. The weapon carries symbolism of the inevitability of divine punishment.

Melpomene is the mother of the sirens - sea creatures who personified the deceptive but charming surface of the sea, under which sharp cliffs or shoals are hidden. From their mother-muse, sirens inherited a divine voice with which they lured sailors.

Muse Thalia - the muse of comedy

Thalia, or in another version Phalia, is in Greek mythology the muse of comedy and light poetry, the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne. She was depicted with a comic mask in her hands and an ivy wreath on her head.

From Thalia and Apollo, the Corybantes were born - the mythical predecessors of the priests of Cybele or Rhea in Phrygia, in wild enthusiasm, with music and dancing, serving the great mother of the gods. According to Diodorus, she received her name from prosperity (talleyn), which was glorified in poetic works for many years.

Zeus, turning into a kite, took Thalia as his wife. Out of fear of Hera's jealousy, the muse hid in the depths of the earth, where demonic creatures were born from her - paliki (in this myth she is called the nymph of Etna).

Muse Polyhymnia - muse of solemn hymns

Polyhymnia is the muse of solemn hymns in Greek mythology. According to Diodorus, she received her name from the creation of many praises (dia polles himneseos) fame to those whose name was immortalized by poetry. She patronizes poets and hymn writers. It is believed that she keeps in memory all the hymns, songs and ritual dances that glorify the Olympian gods, and she is also believed to have invented the lyre.

Polyhymnia is often depicted with a scroll in her hands, in a thoughtful pose. Polyhymnia patronizes people's study of rhetoric and oratory, which turns the speaker into an instrument of truth. She personifies the power of speech and makes a person’s speech life-giving. Polyhymnia helps to understand the mystery of the word as a real force with which you can inspire and revive, but at the same time wound and kill. This power of speech is inspiring on the path to truth.

Muse Terpsichore - muse of dance

Terpsichore is the muse of dance. According to Diodorus, it received its name from the pleasure (terpein) of spectators in the benefits shown in art. Tsets also names her name among the Muses. She is considered the patroness of dancing and choral singing. She was depicted as a young woman, with a smile on her face, sometimes in the pose of a dancer, more often sitting and playing the lyre.

Characteristic attributes: wreath on the head; in one hand she held a lyre and in the other a plectrum. This muse is associated with Dionysus, attributing to her an attribute of this god - ivy (as stated in the inscription on Helicon dedicated to Terpsichore).

Muse Urania - muse of astronomy

Urania is the muse of astronomy. The attributes of Urania were: a celestial globe and a compass. According to Diodorus, she received her name from the aspiration to heaven (uranos) of those who comprehended her art. According to one version, Urania is the mother of Hymen.

Urania personifies the power of contemplation; she calls us to leave the external chaos in which man exists and to immerse ourselves in the contemplation of the majestic running of the stars, which is a reflection of fate. This is the power of knowledge, the power that pulls towards the mysterious, pulls towards the high and beautiful - towards the Sky and the Stars.

Muse Euterpe - muse of lyric poetry

Euterpe (ancient Greek Εὐτέρπη “pleasure”) - in Greek mythology, one of the nine muses, daughters of Zeus and the Titanide Mnemosyne, the muse of lyrical poetry and music. She was depicted with a lyre or flute in her hands.

Mother of Res by the river god Strymon. According to the etymology of Diodorus, she received her name from the pleasure (terpein) of listeners who receive the benefits of education. Tsets also names her name among the Muses.

Muse Erato - muse of love poetry

Erato is the muse of lyrical and love poetry. Her name is derived from the name of the god of love Eros. According to Diodorus, she received her name in honor of the ability to be “eperasta” (desired for love and passion).

Born as a result of the union of Mnemosyne and Zeus. From Mala Erato she gave birth to Cleophema. The attribute of the muse is cithara. This divine heroine of Greek mythology is mentioned quite often in Hellenic legends.

In addition, Virgil and Apollonius of Rhodes resorted to symbolism associated with the image of the Greek muse Erato in their works. She knows how to inspire love for everything living in the soul with her art of transforming everything into beauty hidden beyond the physical.

Based on Wikipedia materials

The origin of the Greek muses. Their role in people's lives.

The first literary references to the muses are found in the works of Hesiod and Homer. There were not nine of them at once: Homer speaks sometimes of several, sometimes of one muse, without mentioning any names. Later they began to believe that there were only three muses, but they were often confused with the Charites. Gradually the number of muses increased to nine, and their names became known: Calliope - the muse of epic poetry; Clio is the muse of history; Melpomene - the muse of tragedy; Thalia is a muah of comedy; Polyhymnia - the muse of sacred hymns; Terpsichore – muse of dance; Erato is the muse of love and wedding poetry; Urania is the muse of science, Euterpe is the muse of poetry and lyricism.

In those distant times, when heroes performed their deeds, and great poets composed their poems about them, the ability to weave words was considered the most revered form of art. Sculpture or painting belonged, rather, to crafts: they delighted the eye, but were not thought of as something divine. Poetry stood at the top of everything. It is no coincidence that several muses are associated with different directions. Calliope was responsible for the epic, Erato helped create love and wedding lyrics, Euterpe inspired the creation of lyric poetry, Pologymnia patronized everyone who composed hymns. Painting and sculpture had no muses. But history and astronomy had them. These sciences were equated to art. Historians praised Clio. Urania was the inspirer and mentor of the stargazers. Poetry was closely connected with drama and theater. The muses Thalia and Melpomene helped create comedies and tragedies. They reminded their favorites that human lives are only roles and are completely in the power of the gods. Terpsichore, the muse of dance and choral singing, brings up the rear in the smooth procession of the sisters.

The word “muses” comes from the ancient Greek word “thinking”; they were also called Parnasids, Castalids, Aonids, Aonian sisters, Pierids and Ipokrenids. Some of the names come from the habitat of the muses. They have always been associated with springs and mountains. The Muses lived on Mount Parnassus, at the foot of which the Kastalsky Spring flowed, and on Mount Helikon near the source of Hippocrene.

They know the past, present and future. The muses glorify the good morals of the Greek gods, sing of the laws and all generations of gods - Gaia, Kronos, Oceanus, Nyx, Helios, Zeus himself and his offspring, connecting the past and the present. The classical muses are inseparable from the orderliness and harmony of the Olympic world.

They patronize singers and musicians and pass on their gifts to them. The Muses endow people with persuasive words, instruct them and console them.

From the muses comes the word “music,” which originally meant not only music in the current sense, but any science or art related to the activities of the muses. Temples dedicated to the muses were called Museions (hence the modern “museum”).

One of the first mentions of muses in great literature is in the Iliad and Odyssey.

Subsequently, Melpomene becomes the personification of tragic stage art, the patroness of theater in general.

She was depicted as a woman in a wreath of grape or ivy leaves, in a theatrical robe, with a tragic mask in one hand and a sword or club in the other (a symbol of the inevitability of punishment for a person who violates the will of the gods). With weapons she seems to destroy human vices.

WAIST(“blooming”, “growing”) - Muse of comedy and light poetry

According to Diodorus, she received her name from prosperity (tallein) for many years, glorified in poetic works.

Talia is an opportunity to learn the value of comedy and a smile. The muse of comedy Talia gives you the opportunity to look at yourself from the outside in order to ultimately laugh at your mistakes.

In Greek myths, she was depicted as a woman with a comic mask in her hands and an ivy wreath on her head; she was distinguished by her optimism and cheerful disposition.

POLYHYMNIA or POLYMNIA(“much singing”) – muse of solemn hymns

One of the meanings of her name is “immortal glory.” According to Diodorus, she received her name from the many praises (dia polles himneseos) of those whose name she immortalized with the glory of poetry.

She patronizes poets - creators of hymns, personifies the power of speech, teaches people rhetoric and oratory. She is credited with the invention of the lyre. Polyhymnia helped to “remember what was captured.” It is believed that she keeps in her memory all the hymns, ritual dances and songs that glorify the Olympian gods.

She was depicted as a girl wrapped in a blanket with a scroll in her hands, in a thoughtful pose, with a dreamy face. Musical instruments are a frequent attribute in painting.

TERPSICHORE(“delightfully dancing”) – Muse of choral singing and dance

According to Diodorus, it received its name from the pleasure (terpein) of spectators in the benefits shown in art. Her epithet is “enjoying round dances.” Popular image and symbol in art.

This muse is associated with Dionysus, attributing to her the attribute of this god - ivy (as stated in the inscription on Helicon dedicated to Terpsichore).

She was depicted as a young woman with a smile on her face, sometimes in the pose of a dancer, more often sitting and playing the lyre. Terpsichore appears with a wreath of ivy on her head, wearing a simple tunic and holding a lyre.

ERATO(“pleasant”) – Muse of love (erotic) poetry

Her name comes from the ancient Greek "Eros" or "Eros", meaning love. Eros was the faithful and constant companion of the muse Erato. Eros is one of the strongest and most ancient Greek gods on Earth: it was he who made it possible for all the other gods, humanity and everything that exists to be born.

Erato teaches love as a way of being, poetry as a method of expressing thoughts, and inspiration as an inexhaustible source of ideas. Her song is that there is no force that can separate loving hearts.

Erato was often depicted in white translucent clothes, with a lyre in his hands, sometimes Eros next to him.

URANIA(“heavenly”) – Muse of astronomy and mathematics

The Muse Urania calls everyone to move away from the chaos of everyday existence in order to immerse themselves in contemplation and study of the majestic life of the Cosmos and the movements of the stars, reflecting earthly destinies.

Urania is the youngest of all the muses, but also the most knowledgeable, serious and intelligent among them. She, along with Pallas Athena, is considered the wisest Greek goddess.

The muse Urania is depicted with a celestial sphere and a compass in her hands, sometimes she is dressed in a cloak of stars, and on her head is a crown of constellations.

EUTERPE or EUTERPE(“entertaining”) – Muse of lyrical poetry and music

The ancient Greek muse Euterpe patronized poets, who loved lyric poetry above other genres, as well as musicians. She was considered the most graceful and beautiful of the nine sisters. Among muses, she stands out for her special sophistication and tenderness. She was called “the giver of pleasure.” According to myths, the gods of Olympus could enjoy her poems indefinitely.

Eutrep was almost always depicted with musical instruments in her hands. As a rule, these were flute, lyre or aulos (double pipe, ancestor of the modern oboe). On some canvases and bas-reliefs he holds garlands of flowers, a symbol of tenderness and beauty. Could be depicted surrounded by forest nymphs.

Poems dedicated to the muses

They have inspired poets for many centuries. Here are examples of works dedicated to the muses themselves:

Hesiod's Theogony - a classic text on the muses

Blessed is the man if the muses love him:

If unexpected grief suddenly takes over your soul,

If someone is drying up, tormented by sadness, then all he has to do is

A song to hear the servant of the muses, the singer of the glorious

The exploits of ancient people, the blessed Olympic gods,

And he immediately forgets about his grief and worries

He doesn’t remember anymore: he was completely changed by the gift of the goddesses.

Hesiod. Theogony

Ausonium

Clio tells the deeds of past times to descendants,

Melpomene's tragic cry brings forth sorrow,

Talia pleases with a joke, a cheerful word and conversation,

Euterpe sings a sweet song with a reed flute,

Terpsichore attracts with a lyre, mastering a storm of feelings,

With a plectrum* in his hand, Erato enchants with both word and gesture,

Calliope keeps songs from heroic times in the book,

Urania studies the stars of the heavens and the rotation of the sky,

Expressing everything with gestures, Polyhymnia glorifies the heroes.

(Ausonium)

Hymn to the Muses

We sing of the light that raises the sorrows of mortals, we sing of

The souls of people, which life, having filled, plunges into the depths,

They can relieve the sorrows inherent in earth-born people,

By the power of pure mystery the mind of the stimulating book

They teach us to hurry and quickly fly through deep summer,

Finding a trail that leads to the star of the same name - after all, once upon a time

There they lost their way and fell on the shore of birth

In a mad thirst to try the lot of material life.

Now, goddesses, I pray, calm down my anxious impulse!

Intoxicate me with the stories of the wise, full of meaning!

Let not the godless race of men lead me astray,

From a wondrous, sacred path, shining, full of fruits!

Muses, I pray - from the crowd of the sinful human race

Eternally draw the wandering soul to the sacred light!

Let the honey of your honeycomb, strengthening the mind, weigh heavily on her,

(from "Ancient Hymns")

Proclus

Under the name of Proclus, the head of the Athenian Neoplatonic school, seven hymns have come down to us, dedicated to Helios, Aphrodite, the muses, all the Greek gods, Hecate, Janus and Athena. There have been debates on this issue in science, in which both positive and negative views on these hymns were expressed.

Muses, I pray - from the crowd of the sinful city of men

Eternally draw the wandering soul to the sacred light!

Let the honey of your honeycomb weigh heavily on her, strengthening the mind,

A soul whose glory lies in one thing - in the mind-bewitching wisdom.

(excerpt)

Pushkin Aoexandr Sergeevich

Muse

In my infancy she loved me
And she handed me a seven-barrel rifle.
She listened to me with a smile - and slightly,
Through the ringing wells of empty reeds,
I've already played with weak fingers
And important hymns, inspired by the gods,
And the peaceful songs of the Phrygian shepherds.
From morning to evening in the silent shade of oak trees
Diligently I listened to the lessons of the secret maiden,
And, delighting me with a random reward,
Throwing the curls away from the cute brow,
She took the pipe from my hands:
The reed was revived by divine breath
And filled my heart with holy charm.

Rymph

Echo, a sleepless nymph, wandered along the shore of Peneus.
Phoebus, seeing her, was inflamed with passion for her.
The nymph bore the fruit of the delights of the loving god;
Between the talkative naiads, suffering, she gave birth
Dear daughter. Mnemosyne herself accepted her.
The playful maiden grew up in the choir of aonid goddesses,
Like a sensitive mother, obedient to strict memory,
Dear to the muses; on earth it is called Rhyme.

O muse of fiery satire!

O muse of fiery satire!
Come to my calling cry!
I don't need a thundering lyre,
Give me the Juvenal scourge!
Not cold imitators,
Not hungry translators,
Not to unrequited rhymers
I'm preparing ulcers of epigrams!
Peace to you, unfortunate poets,
Peace be with you, magazine slanderers,
Peace be with you, humble fools!
And you guys are scoundrels -
Forward! I'll be all your bastard
I am tormented by the execution of shame!
But if I forget someone,
Please remind me, gentlemen!
Oh, how many faces are shamelessly pale,
Oh, how many wide-copper foreheads
Ready to accept from me
An indelible stamp!

The poet mentions these muses more than once in Eugene Onegin:

But where Melpomene is stormy

A long howl is heard,

Where he waves his tinsel robe

She is in front of a cold crowd,

Where Thalia sleeps quietly

And he doesn’t listen to friendly splashes,

Where is Terpsichore the only one

The young viewer marvels...

Vasily Zhukovsky

Herodotus once hosted the muses in a friendly manner!
Each muse left him a book as a gift.

I am a young muse, it used to be...

I used to be a young muse
Met in the sublunary side,
And Inspiration flew
From heaven, uninvited, to me;
Pointed to everything earthly
It is a life-giving ray -
And for me at that time it was
Life and Poetry are one.

But the giver of chants
Haven't visited me for a long time;
There are no experienced visions in the soul,
And the voice of the harp fell silent.
His longed return
Should I wait until again?
Or forever my loss
And will the harp never sound?

But everything that is from wonderful times,
When he was available to me,
Everything from the dear dark, clear
I saved the days gone by -
Flowers of a solitary dream
And life's best flowers, -
I place it on your sacred altar,
O Genius of pure beauty!

I don’t know, bright inspirations
When the cycle returns, -
But you are familiar to me, pure Genius!
And your star shines on me!
While her radiance is still
The soul can distinguish:
The charm has not died!
The past will come true again.

Nikolay Nekrasov

Yesterday, at about six o'clock,
I went to Sennaya;
There they beat a woman with a whip,
A young peasant woman.

Not a sound from her chest
Only the whip whistled as it played...
And I said to the Muse: “Look!
Your dear sister!

Afanasy Fet

Muse

She came and sat down. Happy and worried
I repeat your affectionate verse;
And if my gift is insignificant before you,
I am no less jealous than others.

Carefully preserving your freedom,
I didn’t invite the uninitiated to you,
And I please their slavish rampage
I did not desecrate your speeches.

Still the same you, cherished shrine,
On a cloud, invisible on the ground,
Crowned with stars, imperishable goddess,
With a thoughtful smile on his brow.

Evgeny Baratynsky

Muse

I am not blinded by my muse:
They won't call her beautiful
And the young men: seeing her, followed her
They won't run in a crowd of people in love.
Lure with exquisite attire,
Playing with the eyes, brilliant conversation
She has neither inclination nor gift;
But a glimpse of light is astonishing
Her face has an uncommon expression,
Her speeches are calm and simple;
And he, rather than caustic condemnation,
She will be honored with casual praise.

Anna Akhmatova

Muse

The sister muse looked into the face,
Her gaze is clear and bright.
And she took away the golden ring,
First spring gift.

Muse! Do you see how happy everyone is -
Girls, women, widows...
I'd rather die on the wheel
Not these shackles.

I know: guessing, and I should cut off
Delicate daisy flower.
Must experience on this earth
Every love torture.

I burn a candle in the window until dawn
And I don’t grieve for anyone,
But I don't want, I don't want, I don't want
Know how to kiss another.

Tomorrow the mirrors will tell me, laughing:
“Your gaze is not clear, not bright...”
I will quietly answer: “She took away
God's gift ».

The muse went down the road...

The muse went down the road
Autumn, narrow, steep,
And there were dark legs
Sprayed with coarse dew.

I asked her for a long time
Wait for winter with me,
But she said: “After all, there is a grave here,
How can you still breathe?”

I wanted to give her a dove,
The one who is whiter than everyone else in the dovecote,
But the bird itself flew
For my slender guest.

I looked after her, silent,
I loved her alone
And there was dawn in the sky,
Like the gateway to her country.

Everything has been taken away: both strength and love...

Everything has been taken away: both strength and love.
A body thrown into a disgraceful city
Not happy about the sun. I feel like there's blood
I'm already completely cold.

I don’t recognize the cheerful Muse’s disposition:
She looks and doesn’t say a word,
And he bows his head in a dark wreath,
Exhausted, on my chest.

And only conscience gets worse every day
He is furious: the great one wants tribute.
Covering my face, I answered her...
But there are no more tears, no more excuses.

Somehow we managed to separate...

Somehow we managed to separate
And put out the hateful fire.
My eternal enemy, it's time to learn
You really need someone to love.

I'm free. Everything is fun for me, -
At night the Muse will fly down to console,
And in the morning glory will come
A rattle crackles over your ear.

There's no need to pray for me
And when you leave, look back...
The black wind will calm me down,
The golden leaf fall makes me happy.

I will accept separation as a gift
And oblivion is like grace.
But tell me, on the cross
Do you dare to send another?

Mikhail Kuzmin

Muse

Throwing the net into the deep waters,
Under the prophetic babble of dark linden trees,
The pensive maiden looks
On the scales of magical fish.

Then in the rapture of the bestial
Scarlet tails curl,
They will float out like an aquamarine,
Light, transparent and simple.

Enthusiastically without understanding
The fruits of the sealed waters,
Everyone is waiting for the head of Orpheus
It will emerge like a golden rose.

Igor Gusmanov

KKUTTEEMP or nine muses

What is KKUTTEEMP? Nine words abbreviated
Mnemosyne and Zeus are living features,

What is KKUTTEEMP? These letters hide
Nine fabulous images of ancient times,
Remember their names and they will shine
A multi-colored rainbow of glorious names.

From the foot of Parnassus to the groves of Helicon
You will hear the captivating sound of their songs,
You will see them dance in the rays of Apollo
With attributes of various arts and sciences.

Calliope is the oldest. Epic style
He writes it with a stylus on a wax board,
Klia, muse of history, in a strict peplos
Holds a scroll of papyrus in front of him.

The muse Urania holds the celestial globe,
Muse Talia - a mask with a funny smile,
Terpsichore dances her lovely dance,
And Euterpe plays double on the flute.

Erato steps forward with a gentle lyre,
Melpomene with a tragic mask in her hands,
Polyhymnia hides her face with a veil,
Raising your song about heroes, gods.

Inspiring poets, artists, scientists,
And today they fly from above,
Nine young goddesses, nine enlightened muses,
Nine symbols of intelligence and beauty.

Georgy Medintsev

Oh muse, dear friend

Oh muse, dear friend,
My wonderful Euterpe!
In times of adversity, in times of leisure
Always with me, and with a kind word
You're the only one who makes me happy
Like the case of a fisherman catching a catch,
In the silence of the night and in the noise of the day.
It's nice for me to communicate with you,
It's nice to listen to your voice,
Rotate among your friends
And feel: I belong among them.
You caress me in sorrow
Always, like a small child,
And you inspire me to sing to the lyre,
I’m not young anymore though!

Zinaida Toropchina

Ode to the Muse

Oh, how many appeals to the Muse:
They praise her and call her,
They want to be in close union with her
And sometimes they wait until dawn.
She's a capricious person
She flaps her wing - she’s gone!
You need to keep an eye on her,
So that the Muse's trail is not lost.

Yes, laptops are a relief:
"Scribble" until you're crazy!
And you can see the rhyme.
But the verse will not warm the soul
Without the Muse - the poet's companion
(This has been noticed for a long time!).

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Muse.
And with tenderness, with rapture.
She gives us inspiration
Soul impulses - inspiration!

Yes, one must live in union with the Muse.
And dedicate odes to her - the MUSE!

Alexander Kopp

Apollo and the Muses

...On the ancient mountain Helikon
in the old days, completely, completely gray
Apollo collected girlfriends
Sing to them about love, about kisses...

He was handsome, stately, he sang songs,
he was a god: he owned a sword, a lyre...
Who said that he was out of work? -
Zeus blessed - with a heavenly headlight
shined on them. Pegasus kept the plot -
he is the source who created Hippocrene...
Virgin muses of those epic years
there were smart people with no brains...

So with love, in the early evening hour, -
- Apollo's cithar busting -
space, full of lyrics for us,
the muses of Helikon sang in chorus!

Apollo Svetov

Muse

I'm sleeping. In my sleep I don’t feel the load at all...
(And somewhere, apparently, a treasure is buried in me!)
My fate-weary Muse
She's tired and sleeps with me.

We were never afraid of falling,
We have done a lot of things together!
Now the Muse has become completely tame.
Looks like she's just tired of me...

And without her I mean nothing!
Apparently I can't wake up on my own...
Now I’ll saddle not Pegasus - a nag -
And I will give up the winged one... To whom?

Where the hell does this mood come from?
Oh yes, I'm dreaming... What a nightmare!
Here's something new... A breath of coolness...
I hear the sound of hooves! Yes, it's Him!

The bonds that bound us together invisibly...
These are threads of Light, Wisdom, Goodness,
My unbowed Muse
She whispered to me: “Wake up, my friend. It's time!

Hellas gave the world not only fascinating myths about gods and heroes. The muses of Ancient Greece, these images of the daughters of Zeus, have long been associated with art, inspiration, insight, dreams and bright moments. Each of them was endowed with special features and attributes, people turned to them for blessings and opened temples in honor of the muses. Who were these nine muses and what mark did they leave on world culture?

Muses of Ancient Greece. Artist Yannis Stefanidis www.art-book.gr/

9 Muses of Ancient Greece

As the Greeks believed, each of the most important areas of life has its own patroness. And since their mother was Mnemosyne, who personified memory, “muse” is translated as “thinking.” And the habitat of the nine muses was certainly mountains (Helikon or Parnassus) with clear springs and shady forests. Here they danced to the sounds of the lyre of the god Apollo. It is precisely this kind of plot that can often be seen in ancient frescoes and in the paintings of European artists who were inspired by Greek mythology.

Muse Kalliopi

Calliope (Καλλιόπη) patronized epic poetry and rhetoric and was considered the noblest of muses. She was often depicted in a dreamy pose with a stylus (writing stick) and tablets or with a scroll.

Calliope was often perceived by the Greeks as the main of all muses - it was not for nothing that her head was decorated with a laurel or gold wreath. This muse symbolized love for their land, so warriors who went into battle took her images with them. Knowing how to speak fiery speeches and distinguished by her eloquence, Calliope instantly awakened heroism and a sense of sacrifice in a person.

According to some sources, Calliope was considered a virgin; according to other versions, she was the mother of Orpheus, Linus or Iolemus from Apollo. Some even claimed that Homer was her son.

Euterpe (Ευτέρπη) was considered the muse of lyric poetry and music, who was often depicted in the company of forest nymphs. She was called the Giver of Pleasure.

Among other muses, she stood out for her sophistication and femininity, and the gods could enjoy her poems endlessly. Euterpe's attributes were the musical instruments syringa and aulos (progenitors of the flute and oboe), as well as a flower wreath.

From the union of Euterpe and the river god Strymon, the hero Risos was born. He commanded a detachment of Thracians in the Trojan War and was killed by Diomedes, as recounted in Homer's Iliad.

One of the most famous muses, whose name is familiar to everyone, is Melpomene (Μελπομένη). She was not only the patroness of tragedy, but also the mother of the owners of enchanting voices, who challenged the muses and quite expectedly lost - the gods turned them into sirens.

Then Melpomene, regretting the fate of her daughters, forever acquired her attributes: a tragic mask, a theatrical robe and a sword as a reminder of the inevitability of punishment for those who violate the will of the gods.

Melpomene, along with other muses, accompanied Apollo. She is considered the creator of the varvitos, an ancient string instrument such as the lyre. Through disasters and failures, the muse experienced tragedy from all sides, but the triumph of the human spirit is always born in tragedy, which is what Melpomene shows to people.

As the opposite of Melpomene - Waist (Θάλεια). This muse of comedy was portrayed with a comic mask. Unlike her sister, she was characterized by optimism and a light disposition, which was the reason for quarrels with Melpomene, and she was closest to Terpsichore.

There is a widespread interpretation that the mask in Talia’s hand symbolized laughter. But more and more often there are versions that the masks of this muse and Melpomene meant the acting of a person in the theater of the gods. Thalia was considered the deity of good humor and fun.

As for the muse Erato (Ερατώ), she patronized lyric or love poetry, and was also a defender of love and marriage.

Erato inspired poets to create romantic works, and her constant attributes were the tambourine and the lyre. She was often depicted completely naked.

Roses decorate the head as a symbol of eternal love. Inspired by Erato, poets and musicians created such works that any couple in love who heard them immediately felt the desire to be together forever.

And here Polyhymnia (Πολύμνια) in mythology she was considered the muse of pantomime and hymns. She patronized the study of oratory and the writing of hymns. Hence the most ancient interpretation of her name: πολύ + ύμνος . It was to her that the ancient world was grateful for the ritual dances and songs that glorified the Olympian gods, and it was by her will that the speaker’s speech became fiery.

This muse was always represented as serious, deep in thought, sometimes with a finger pressed to her lips in a call for silence. Later version of her name πολύ + μνεία meant help in learning, in memorizing, that is, here she approaches Mnemosyne.

With faith in the powers of Polyhymnia, the Greeks went to important performances - they just had to call her in advance so that the muse had time to bestow the person with the necessary oratorical qualities. Polyhymnia was sometimes also considered the muse of geometry, meditation and agriculture.

Muse Terpsichore (Τερψιχόρη), in turn, was “responsible” for choral singing and dancing. She was often depicted playing the lyre or in the pose of a dancer.

It is believed that the art of Terpsichore symbolized the unity of spiritual impulses, natural principles and body movements. It was the expression of the complete unity of man and nature that was the main goal of the dances. If a dancer wanted to learn to move to the rhythm of his heart, he immediately called Terpsichore for help.

In mythology, the patroness of history was Clio (Κλειώ), who was depicted with a spiritual and thoughtful face. In her hands she held either a papyrus scroll or a scroll box. Clio's head was decorated with a laurel wreath - a symbol of nobility. She was often depicted with an hourglass or with a bugle, which she blew to announce some glorious event.

The muse inspired a love of the past and history, which was always valuable to the Greeks. Clio included even the smallest events in her scrolls - nothing escaped her attention or was forgotten. She was responsible for the accuracy of the description of events, both verbally and in writing.

Somehow Clio allowed herself irony about Aphrodite’s feelings for Adonis; in retaliation for this, she sent Clio a passion for the hero Pierus (from his name - the Greek region of Pieria). As a result of this relationship, Clio had a son, Iakinthos.

Another, ninth, muse - Urania (Ουρανία). This muse patronized astronomy and astrology and was one of the wisest daughters of Zeus. She always had a compass in her hands to determine the distances between the stars and a globe.

Moreover, the Greeks considered Urania the patroness of other sciences, including. It is interesting that this muse, like the others, did not patronize art, but therefore symbolized the complete harmony of music, poetry and the celestial spheres - one is impossible without the other. Urania was often credited with the qualities of a soothsayer.

Urania's place of residence was the celestial sphere, the sky - ουρανός.

Worship of the Muses in Culture

The muses of Ancient Greece, although they were a figment of the imagination, made a very real contribution to world culture. It is enough to remember how many poems and poems were dedicated to them, not to mention the very name “muse”, which became a household word. Among the poets who sang them were Byron, Yesenin, Fet, Pushkin and, of course, Homer. In honor of them, museums were built - temples that concentrated the artistic and cultural life of Greece. The most famous was the Alexandria Museum, and later this word gave rise to the name “museum”.

The muses inspired famous artists who depicted them as they imagined them. For example, Gustave Moreau transferred images of muses to the canvas “Apollo and the 9 Muses,” in which the girls float carefree behind a seated Apollo. Also, Jean-Marc Nattier turned to the images of muses in the film “Thalia” and Eustache Lesueur in the film “The Muses”. Andrea Appiani depicted the muses on Parnassus dancing to the lyre of Apollo. The sculpture also embodies many images of muses. In addition to Greece itself, their statues can be seen in the Hermitage, and the most valuable sarcophagus with bas-reliefs of muses is exhibited in the Louvre.

Y, female. Derivatives: Music. Origin: (Greek musa muse (female deity of art)) Name day: May 29 Dictionary of personal names. MUSE Inspiring, uplifting. In ancient mythology: goddess of science and art. Tatar, Turkic, Muslim... Dictionary of personal names

Muse inspiring the poet Henri Rousseau Muse inspiring the poet, 1909 ... Wikipedia

- (foreign) inspiration. Wed. As long as you are beloved by the muses, You Peirid burn with fire... Worldly forget your sorrows. A. S. Pushkin to Batyushkov. Wed. Goddess of courageous thoughts! My poems sounded to you, Alive, bright, like you! N. M. Yazykov. To the Muse. Wed. Breathe... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)

Each of the 9 sisters of goddesses, according to other Greek. mythologies that patronized the sciences and arts. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. MUSE Plant; same as banana. Dictionary of foreign words included in... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Goddess of the Arts; Muzka Dictionary of Russian synonyms. muse 1. see poetry. 2. see inspiration Synoni Dictionary... Synonym dictionary

MUSE, s, female. 1. In Greek mythology: the patron goddess of the arts and sciences. Nine muses (daughters of Zeus, patrons of the sciences and arts). 2. transfer The source of poetic inspiration, as well as inspiration itself, creativity (book). M.... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Women generic or family name for banana plant and related tropical plants. | In figurative meaning. from Greek fables: graceful inspiration, artistic gift. Museum or museum for men, Greek. a collection of rarities or remarkable items from... ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

muse- y, w. musa m. bot. Banana tree, banana, mu/za, pisa/ng. Poppy. 1908. And to the right and to the left, on the mirror-glasses, white and gold, stood jardinieres from Rouen imitation, with the same violets, gillyflowers and shaggy leaves that you and I, in... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

MUSE- (M. and M.; in other Greek mythology, each of the nine goddesses, patroness of sciences and arts) To you, poet, in the evening silence My dreams, worries and leisure. Close to the Muse, a flighty friend, I won’t be able to feast for long, apparently. AB900 (I,463.1); You beamed at me from... Proper name in Russian poetry of the 20th century: dictionary of personal names

- (foreign) inspiration Wed. As long as you are beloved by the muses, You Pierid burn with fire... Forget worldly sorrows. A.S. Pushkin to Batyushkov. Wed. Goddess of courageous thoughts! My poems sounded to you, Alive, bright, like you! N.M. Languages. To the Muse. Wed. Breathe heavenly to me,... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary

Books

• Muse, Burton Jesse. 1967 Odelle Bastien joins the Skelton Institute at the same time her romance with Laurie Scott begins. 1936 Olive, the daughter of art dealer Harold Schloss, secretly writes...

The work of almost every great artist is unthinkable without the presence of a woman who inspires him - the muse.

Raphael's immortal works were painted using images that his lover, the model Fornarina, helped create; Michelangelo enjoyed a platonic relationship with the famous Italian poetess Vittoria Colonna.

The beauty of Simonetta Vespucci was immortalized by Sandro Botticelli, and the famous Gala inspired the great Salvador Dali.

Who are the muses?

The ancient Greeks believed that every area of ​​their life that they considered most important had its own patron, a muse.

According to their ideas, The list of muses of ancient Greece looked like this:

• Calliope is the muse of epic poetry;
• Clio is the muse of history;
• Melpomene - the muse of tragedy;
• Thalia is the muse of comedy;
• Polyhymnia - the muse of sacred hymns;
• Terpsichore – muse of dance;
• Euterpe is the muse of poetry and lyricism;
• Erato is the muse of love and wedding poetry;
• Urania is the muse of science.

According to classical Greek mythology, nine daughters were born to the supreme god Zeus and Mnemosyne, daughter of the titans Uranus and Gaia. Since Mnemosyne was the goddess of memory, it is not surprising that her daughters began to be called muses, translated from Greek this means “thinking”.

It was assumed that the favorite habitat of the muses was Mount Parnassus and Helicon, where in the shady groves, to the sound of clear springs, they formed Apollo's retinue.

They sang and danced to the sound of his lyre. This subject was loved by many Renaissance artists. Raphael used it in his famous paintings of the Vatican halls.

Andrea Montegna's work "Parnassus", which depicts Apollo surrounded by muses dancing for the supreme gods of Olympus, can be seen in the Louvre.

The famous sarcophagus of the Muses is also located there. It was found in the 18th century in Roman excavations, its lower bas-relief is decorated with an excellent image of all 9 muses.

Museyons

The most famous is the Alexandria Museum. This name formed the basis of the well-known word museum.

Alexander the Great founded Alexandria as a center of Hellenistic culture in the Egypt he conquered. After his death, his body was brought here to a tomb specially built for him.. But, unfortunately, then the remains of the great king disappeared and have not yet been found.

One of the associates of Alexander the Great, Ptolemy I Soter, who laid the foundation for the Ptolemaic dynasty, founded a museum in Alexandria, which combined a research center, an observatory, a botanical garden, a menagerie, a museum, famous library.

Archimedes, Euclid, Eratosthenes, Herophilus, Plotinus and other great minds of Hellas worked under its arches.

The most favorable conditions were created for successful work, scientists could meet each other, have long conversations, as a result, the greatest discoveries were made, which have not lost their significance even now.

The muses were always depicted as young, beautiful women; they had the ability to see the past and predict the future.

The greatest favor of these beautiful creatures was enjoyed by singers, poets, artists, muses encouraged them in creativity and served as a source of inspiration.

Unique abilities of muses

Clio, the "Glory-Giving" Muse of History, whose permanent attribute is a parchment scroll or board with writing, where she wrote down all events in order to preserve them in the memory of descendants.

As the ancient Greek historian Diodorus said about her: “The greatest of muses inspires love for the past.”

According to mythology, Clio was friends with Calliope. The surviving sculptural and pictorial images of these muses are very similar, often made by the same master.

There is a myth about a quarrel that arose between Aphrodite and Clio.

Possessing strict morals, the goddess of history did not know love and condemned Aphrodite, who was the wife of the god Hephaestus, for her tender feelings for the young god Dionysus.

Aphrodite ordered her son Eros to shoot two arrows, the one that kindled love hit Clio, and the one that killed her went to Pieron.
Suffering from unrequited love convinced the strict muse not to judge anyone anymore for their feelings.

Melpomene, muse of tragedy

Zeus or Poseidon, here the opinions of myth-makers differ, turned them into sirens.
The same ones that almost killed the Argonauts.

Melpomene vowed to forever regret their fate and all those who defy the will of heaven.

She is always wrapped in a theatrical robe, and her symbol is a mournful mask, which she holds in her right hand.
In her left hand is a sword, symbolizing punishment for insolence.

Thalia, muse of comedy, sister of Melpomene, but never accepted her sister’s unconditional belief that punishment was inevitable, this often became the reason for their quarrels.

She is always depicted with a comedy mask in her hands, her head is decorated with an ivy wreath, and she is distinguished by her cheerful disposition and optimism.

Both sisters symbolize life experience and reflect the way of thinking characteristic of the inhabitants of ancient Greece that the whole world is a theater of the gods, and people in it only perform their assigned roles.

Polyhymnia, muse of sacred hymns, faith expressed in music

The patroness of speakers, the fervor of their speeches and the interest of listeners depended on her favor.

On the eve of the performance, one should ask the muse for help, then she would condescend to the person asking and instill in him the gift of eloquence, the ability to penetrate every soul.

The constant attribute of Polyhymnia is the lyre.

Euterpe - muse of poetry and lyricism

She stood out among other muses for her special, sensual perception of poetry.

To the quiet accompaniment of Orpheus' harp, her poems delighted the ears of the gods on the Olympian hill.

Considered the most beautiful and feminine of the muses, she became the savior of his soul for him, who had lost Eurydice.

Euterpe's attribute is a double flute and a wreath of fresh flowers.

As a rule, she was depicted surrounded by forest nymphs.

Terpsichore, muse of dance, which is performed in the same rhythm with heartbeats.

The perfect art of Terpsichore dance expressed complete harmony of the natural principle, movements of the human body and spiritual emotions.

The muse was depicted in a simple tunic, with an ivy wreath on her head and with a lyre in her hands.

Erato, muse of love and wedding poetry

Her song is that there is no force that can separate loving hearts.

Songwriters called on the muse to inspire them to create new beautiful works.
Erato's attribute is a lyre or tambourine; her head is decorated with wonderful roses as a symbol of eternal love.

Calliope, which means “beautiful-voiced” in Greek, is the muse of epic poetry.

The eldest of the children of Zeus and Mnemosyne and, in addition, the mother of Orpheus, from her the son inherited a subtle understanding of music.

She was always depicted in the pose of a beautiful dreamer, holding in her hands a wax tablet and a wooden stick - a stylus, which is why the well-known expression “writing in a high style” appeared.

The ancient poet Dionysius Medny called poetry “the cry of Calliope.”

The ninth muse of astronomy, the wisest of the daughters of Zeus, Urania holds in her hands the symbol of the celestial sphere - a globe and a compass, which helps determine the distances between celestial bodies.

The name was given to the muse in honor of the god of heaven, Uranus, who existed even before Zeus.

Interestingly, Urania, the goddess of science, is among the muses associated with various types of arts. Why?
According to the teaching of Pythagoras on the “harmony of the celestial spheres,” the dimensional relationships of musical sounds are comparable to the distances between the celestial bodies. Without knowing one, it is impossible to achieve harmony in the other.

As the goddess of science, Urania is still revered today. There is even a Urania Museum in Russia.

The muses symbolized the hidden virtues of human nature and contributed to their manifestation.

According to the ideas of the ancient Greeks, the muses had the amazing gift of introducing the souls of people to the great secrets of the Universe, memories of which they then embodied in poetry, music, and scientific discoveries.

Patronizing all creative people, the muses did not tolerate vanity and deception and severely punished them.

The Macedonian king Pierus had 9 daughters with beautiful voices, who decided to challenge the muses to a competition.

Calliope won and was declared the winner, but the Pierids refused to admit defeat and tried to start a fight. For this they were punished, and they were turned into forty.

Instead of wonderful singing, they announce their fate to the whole world with sharp guttural cries.

Therefore, you can count on the help of the muses and divine providence only if your thoughts are pure and your aspirations are selfless.

Read an interesting article about Hera, Aphrodite and Athena.