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. In accordance with 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 - 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 ones.”
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.
From left to right: Calliope (with a scroll), Thalia (with a mask in her hand), Erato, Euterpe (with a wind musical instrument), Polyhymnia, Clio, Terpsichore (with a cithara), Urania (with a staff and globe), Melpomene (with a theatrical mask on the head)
Museyons
In honor of the muses, special temples were built - museions, which were the focus of the cultural and artistic life of Hellas. The Alexandria Museum is the most famous. 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, botanical garden, menagerie, 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.
Clio, the "Glory-Giving" Muse of History
Her constant attribute was a parchment scroll or a 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
Her two daughters had magical voices and decided to challenge the muses, but they lost and, in order to punish them for their pride, Zeus or Poseidon (opinions differ here) turned them into sirens. The same ones that almost killed the Argonauts.
Melpomene vowed to forever regret their fate and all those who challenge 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
Melpomene's sister, but never accepted her sister's unconditional belief that punishment was inevitable, this often became the cause of their quarrels. She is always depicted with a comedy mask in her hands, her head is decorated with an ivy wreath, and she has a cheerful disposition and optimism.
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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 and 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, the muse of the dance, which is performed in the same rhythm as the heartbeat
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 (Greek for “beautiful-voiced”) - 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.”
Urania - the ninth muse of astronomy, the wisest of the daughters of Zeus
He holds in his hands a 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.
This article began with a conversation between two schoolchildren, accidentally overheard in the corridors of an educational institution. Two boys were desperately arguing about who was the muse of the dance - Urania or Terpsichore. They gave reasons and even referred to a certain chapter in the history textbook. The students were getting excited, and it seemed like a fight was brewing. But, finally, the debaters looked into the saving Internet and went home. Do you know the answer to the question that caused the boys’ discord? If not, then our article will be very useful to you.
Who are the muses
Absolutely all people have heard about these ephemeral creatures. The ancient Greek goddesses inspired people to create incredible works of art and generously endowed them with talents. Who really are these women who combine all the brightest, gentlest and most beautiful things in this world?
The ancient Greeks considered the beautiful muses to be the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. She herself was born from the titans Uranus and Gaia, and was a very revered goddess of memory in Hellas. According to legend, Zeus was fascinated by Mnemosyne and from their love nine beautiful daughters were born, called muses. Translated from Greek, this word is translated as “thinking.” And it is not surprising if we remember that their mother was the goddess of memory.
The muses were so important in the life of the Hellenes that each of them was given one of the spheres of life of ordinary people. Moreover, even people who did not have special talents revered the daughters of Mnemosyne and asked for their blessings for certain actions.
Muses: how many were there?
Today it is generally accepted that there have always been nine muses. But in fact, there are many mysteries in this issue. Homer first mentioned the muses, but he did not name their number or names. His immortal works wrote about one or several goddesses. Later the muses got names, and their number increased to three. Some written sources also mentioned four muses, but quite often they were confused with the Charites, goddesses of fertility. Some time later, Hesiod, in his poem dedicated to the muses, listed them all along with their names. It is in this form that they have survived to this day:
- Calliope.
- Clio.
- Melpomene.
- Waist.
- Polyhymnia.
- Terpsichore.
- Euterpe.
- Erato.
- Urania is the muse of science.
Usually goddesses appeared before people in the form of young and beautiful girls who had a lot of talents. The Hellenes especially appreciated the incredible ability of the muses to look into the past and future. They could predict the fate of those they favored.
The muses treated poets, artists and musicians with special love. They came to them in dreams or in reality and bestowed inspiration, after which it became much easier to create. Standing a little apart in this group of patrons of the arts is Urania, the muse of astronomy. But we'll talk about it a little later.
Where did the muses live?
The Hellenes believed that all muses live under the patronage of Apollo. On Mount Parnassus, in the shade of evergreen trees, they indulge in fun, sing and dance. At the foot of the mountain there is a spring - the Kastalsky spring. If the muses treated someone with water from this sacred source, then he acquired the ability to create and give people his creativity.
Quite often, ancient Greek masters depicted the muses together with Apollo, who controls their noisy round dance. This plot was found on bas-reliefs in the houses of the nobility and on various utensils. Archaeologists also found it in the ruins of temples dedicated to Apollo.
Often the muses took part in the festivals of Dionysus. They sang and danced for him, and also inspired many gods to do various things for the benefit of people.
Cult of the Muses
The muses were considered extraordinary creatures that connect the world of people and the world of the gods of Olympus. All of them, cheerful and noisy (and even the serious muse Urania), watched over the purity of human thoughts. After all, only a person who is ready to renounce everything dark and vain can count on the help of the ancient Greek muses.
The Muses were so revered in Greece that temples were built in their honor. They were built according to a special architectural plan, and the praise of the goddesses took place in a very unusual way. Temples in honor of the muses, museions, were not so much a place of worship, but rather the center of cultural and scientific life.
Archaeologists have found the ruins of the temple of the muses in the sanctuary of Pythagoras. Nine sculptures of muses surrounded the goddess Hestia and personified one of the sciences. For example, it was believed that Urania, the ninth muse of astronomy and astrology, occupies one of the most important roles in this temple. She blesses those who observe the starry sky, describe the constellations and draw up various maps.
Alexandria Museyon
The most famous among all the temples dedicated to the muses was the Alexandria Museion. It was like an extensive research center. On a large territory under the arches of the temple there were libraries, philosophical halls, menageries and museums. The most famous figures of Hellas came here, they had the opportunity to communicate, work together and make discoveries. Nowadays, the works of Euclid and Archimedes, who worked precisely in the Alexandria Museion, are widely known. According to legend, after the death of Alexander the Great, his body in a sarcophagus was transferred to this building, but later the body of the great commander disappeared and his whereabouts have not yet been found.
Throughout the territory of Ancient Greece, archaeologists have found the ruins of museons; similar structures were also found among Roman temple complexes. This suggests that scientific thought developed in part thanks to fictitious goddesses who united scientists in one area and inspired their work.
Muses of Ancient Greece: Urania
Urania was considered the youngest daughter of Mnemosyne. She was very different from her sisters and was the most serious of them. It seems a little strange to many of our contemporaries that the serious Urania, the muse of astronomy, was among the host of cheerful and talented girls. The history of the emergence of this science and the attitude of the ancient Greeks to it can shed light on this mystery.
In fact, astronomy for the Hellenes is a basic science that served as an explanation of the universe and the source of many philosophical ideas and movements. This science was studied in Egypt, Mesopotamia and Babylon. It was through it that the ancient Greeks sought to penetrate the great secrets of the cosmos.
The muse Urania called to reject everything earthly and plunge into a completely new world, opening only to a select few. It was to them that the goddess was ready to help and bless them in every possible way for the hard work of scientific research.
Urania, the muse of astronomy in ancient Greek mythology: description
Archaeologists have found a large number of images of the patroness of scientific disciplines. Usually the muse Urania on canvases and found bas-reliefs is a serious girl with a sphere and a measuring device. With its help, she determines the distance between celestial bodies.
Her parents named her in honor of the god Uranus, because he was one of the most ancient deities of this world, and even the great Zeus treated him with great respect. The muse Urania patronized not only astronomy, but also other sciences. Therefore, the Hellenes believed that it represents complete harmony and perfection. After all, science cannot be separated from art, the ancient Greek thinkers were convinced of this. It was Urania who was the most powerful soothsayer among her sisters. She knew how to penetrate the subtlest layers of the past and future faster and more accurately than all other goddesses.
The muses themselves considered Urania the most knowledgeable and strict; she was the goddess who punished stupid people for competing with the muses. And in this she was cold-blooded and ruthless.
The Legend of the Daughters of Pier
The myths preserve the story of King Pier, who lived in Macedonia and had nine beautiful daughters. The girls were not only amazingly beautiful, but also talented. Each of them had a pleasant voice and an ideal ear for music. One day, the vain princesses decided to compete with the muses themselves and challenged them to a creative duel. However, in this competition of talents, Calliope won the championship, but the stubborn girls refused to recognize her victory and declared the results of the competition invalid. In response to such insolence, Urania turned nine beauties into forty, who were called upon to forever announce the surroundings with their harsh and unpleasant voices.
That is why the Hellenes believed that only with pure thoughts and hearts can one turn to the muses.
The image of Urania in art
Many museums around the world display sculptures and bas-reliefs depicting muses, including Urania. But few people know that poets often dedicated poems and prose to her. For example, Lomonosov mentioned the muse in one of his odes to the empress. And Fyodor Tyutchev and Joseph Brodsky released a whole series of poems dedicated to the muse of astronomy and science.
Ancient Greek mythology is extremely confusing, and the uninitiated can easily become confused by the pantheon of gods and various ephemeral creatures. But the muses are a special page in the myths of the Ancient World. Few people have any idea of how important Urania occupied among her sisters and other goddesses. We have collected the most interesting facts about the patroness of sciences:
- Urania, together with the goddesses of the sea, accompanied the dead souls to the island of the Happy.
- There is a Urania Museum on the territory of our country.
- Pythagoras wrote a scientific work in which he explained the similarity of the rules for constructing musical compositions with the distance between the celestial spheres, which the muse of astronomy was able to measure.
- Urania was often compared to Pallas Athena, the patroness of Greek Athens.
- In ancient myths there is a mention that Apollo himself was captivated by the mind of Urania and fell in love with her, from this union she gave birth to a son.
Many contemporaries believe that the story of the ancient Greek muses is not without meaning. And in our current age of progress, it would not hurt for humanity to come up with another muse that would guide and inspire us. But it’s hardly worth inventing something new where everything has already been done for us. After all, the muse Urania is not only the patroness of the sciences, but also of everything that they give. And, therefore, it is she who can be considered the muse of progress caused by the scientific revolution in the minds of people.
Goddesses of ancient Greece
Artemis– Goddess of the moon and hunting, forests, animals, fertility and childbirth. She was never married, diligently guarded her chastity, and if she took revenge, she knew no pity. Her silver arrows spread plague and death, but she also had the ability to heal. She protected young girls and pregnant women. Her symbols are cypress, deer and bears.
Atropos- one of the three moiras, cutting the thread of fate and ending human life.
Athena(Pallada, Parthenos) - daughter of Zeus, born from his head in full military armor. One of the most revered Greek goddesses, the goddess of just war and wisdom, the patroness of knowledge.
Athena. Statue. Hermitage. Athena Hall.
Description:
Athena is the goddess of wisdom, just war and patroness of crafts.
Statue of Athena made by Roman craftsmen of the 2nd century. Based on a Greek original from the late 5th century. BC e. Entered the Hermitage in 1862. Previously it was in the collection of the Marquis Campana in Rome. It is one of the most interesting exhibits in the Athena Hall.
Everything about Athena, starting from her birth, was amazing. Other goddesses had divine mothers, Athena - one father, Zeus, who met with the daughter of Ocean Metis. Zeus swallowed his pregnant wife because she predicted that after her daughter she would give birth to a son who would become the ruler of heaven and deprive him of power. Soon Zeus had an unbearable headache. He became gloomy, and seeing this, the gods hastened to leave, for they knew from experience what Zeus was like when he was in a bad mood. The pain did not go away. The Lord of Olympus could not find a place for himself. Zeus asked Hephaestus to hit him on the head with a blacksmith's hammer. From the split head of Zeus, announcing Olympus with a war cry, an adult maiden jumped out in full warrior clothes and with a spear in her hand and stood next to her parent. The eyes of the young, beautiful and majestic goddess shone with wisdom.
Aphrodite(Kytherea, Urania) - goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the marriage of Zeus and the goddess Dione (according to another legend, she came out of the sea foam)
Aphrodite (Venus Tauride)
Description:
According to Hesiod’s “Theogony,” Aphrodite was born near the island of Cythera from the seed and blood of Uranus castrated by Kronos, which fell into the sea and formed snow-white foam (hence the nickname “foam-born”). The breeze brought her to the island of Cyprus (or she sailed there herself, since she did not like Cythera), where she, emerging from the sea waves, was met by the Ora.
The statue of Aphrodite (Venus of Tauride) dates back to the 3rd century BC. e., now it is in the Hermitage and is considered his most famous statue. The sculpture became the first antique statue of a naked woman in Russia. Life-size marble statue of bathing Venus (height 167 cm), modeled after the Aphrodite of Cnidus or the Capitoline Venus. The hands of the statue and a fragment of the nose are lost. Before entering the State Hermitage, she decorated the garden of the Tauride Palace, hence the name. In the past, “Venus Tauride” was intended to decorate the park. However, the statue was delivered to Russia much earlier, even under Peter I and thanks to his efforts. The inscription made on the bronze ring of the pedestal recalls that Venus was given by Clement XI to Peter I (as a result of an exchange for the relics of St. Brigid sent to the Pope by Peter I). The statue was discovered in 1718 during excavations in Rome. Unknown sculptor of the 3rd century. BC depicted the naked goddess of love and beauty Venus. A slender figure, rounded, smooth lines of the silhouette, softly modeled body shapes - everything speaks of a healthy and chaste perception of female beauty. Along with calm restraint (posture, facial expression), a generalized manner, alien to fractionality and fine detail, as well as a number of other features characteristic of the art of the classics (V - IV centuries BC), the creator of Venus embodied in her his idea of beauty, associated with the ideals of the 3rd century BC. e. (graceful proportions - high waist, somewhat elongated legs, thin neck, small head - tilt of the figure, rotation of the body and head).
Aphrodite (Venus). Statue. Hermitage
Description:
Statue of Aphrodite - goddess of beauty and love
Roman copy based on a Greek original from the 3rd - 2nd centuries. BC
In 1851, through the Venetian antiquarian A. Sanquirico, the Hermitage received a beautiful statue of Aphrodite, which had previously been part of the collection of the Venetian Nani family. In a rare publication from the era of the Napoleonic Wars - "Collection of all antiquities stored in the Venetian Museum of Nani" - we read about this sculpture: "It lay prostrate for a long time in neglect ... but was recalled from oblivion when Mr. Jacopo Nani saw it and placed it in his famous museum, presenting it to the judgment of the famous Canova, who strongly praised the new acquisition." The statue of Aphrodite is distinguished by the complexity of body movement and exquisite harmony of proportions. It reflects the trends of Hellenistic art, characteristic of the art of the Antonine dynasty (96-193).
Aphrodite (Venus) and Cupid
Description:
Aphrodite (Venus) and Cupid.
The sculpture perhaps talks about a tragic moment. The rose, a flower sacred to Venus, was originally white, but, according to one traditional view, at the moment when Venus was hurrying to her lover, a thorn dug into her leg and drops of blood fell on the white petals, staining them. While they were pulling out the splinter, a wild boar killed her beloved Adonis - the young beautiful god of spring, personifying the annual dying and revival of nature.. Venus is usually depicted sitting, she is trying to remove the splinter from her leg, Cupid helps her.
Aphrodite on a dolphin. Sculpture. Hermitage
Description:
Aphrodite, as the goddess of love, was dedicated to myrtle, rose, poppy and apple; as the goddess of fertility - a sparrow and a dove; as a sea goddess - a dolphin; The swallow and the linden tree were dedicated to her. According to legend, the secret of her charm was hidden in a magic belt.
Venus in the shell. Sculpture. Hermitage.
Description:
Venus in the shell.
Sculpture by Carlo Finelli (Finelli, 1782-1853) - Italian sculptor, one of the most gifted followers of the classical movement.
Aphrodite (Greek) - Venus (Roman)
Classical Aphrodite emerged naked from the airy sea foam. The breeze on the shell brought it to the shores of Cyprus.
Hebe- daughter of Zeus and Hera, goddess of youth. Sister of Ares and Ilithyia. She served the Olympian gods at feasts.
Hecate- goddess of darkness, night visions and sorcery, patroness of sorcerers.
Gemera- goddess of daylight, personification of the day, born of Nikta and Erebus. Often identified with Eos.
Hera- the supreme Olympian goddess, sister and third wife of Zeus, daughter of Rhea and Kronos, sister of Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Poseidon. Hera was considered the patroness of marriage.
Hestia- goddess of the hearth and fire.
Gaia- mother earth, foremother of all gods and people.
Demeter- goddess of fertility and agriculture.
Dryads- lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees.
Ilithia- patron goddess of women in labor.
Iris- winged goddess, assistant of Hera, messenger of the gods.
Calliope- muse of epic poetry and science.
Kera- demonic creatures, children of the goddess Nikta, bringing troubles and death to people.
Clio- one of the nine muses, the muse of history.
Clio. Muse of history
Description:
Clio is the muse of history in ancient Greek mythology. Depicted with a papyrus scroll or a case for scrolls. Daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne - goddess of memory. According to Diodorus, it received its name from the fact that chanting in poetry gives great glory to those praised (kleos).
Clotho(“spinner”) - one of the moiras that spins the thread of human life.
Lachesis- one of the three Moira sisters, who determine the fate of every person even before birth.
Summer- Titanide, mother of Apollo and Artemis.
Mayan- a mountain nymph, the eldest of the seven Pleiades - the daughters of Atlas, the beloved of Zeus, from whom Hermes was born to her.
Melpomene- muse of tragedy.
Melpomene (Muse of Tragedy)
Description:
Statue of Melpomene. Roman copy according to the Greek model of the 2nd century. BC e.
In ancient Greek mythology, the muse of tragedy (Greek: “singing”). At first, Melpomene was considered the muse of song, then of sad song, and later she became the patroness of theater in general, the personification of tragic stage art. Daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, mother of the terrible sirens.
She was depicted as a woman with a bandage on her head and 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).
Metis- goddess of wisdom, the first of the three wives of Zeus, who conceived Athena from him.
Mnemosyne- mother of nine muses, goddess of memory.
Moira- goddess of fate, daughter of Zeus and Themis.
Muses- patron goddess of the arts and sciences.
Naiads- nymphs-guardians of waters.
Nemesis- daughter of Nikta, a goddess who personified fate and retribution, punishing people in accordance with their sins.
Nereids- fifty daughters of Nereus and the oceanids Doris, sea deities.
Nika- personification of victory. She was often depicted wearing a wreath, a common symbol of triumph in Greece.
Nymphs- lower deities in the hierarchy of Greek gods. They personified the forces of nature.
Nikta- one of the first Greek deities, the goddess is the personification of the primordial Night.
Orestiades- mountain nymphs.
Ory- goddess of the seasons, peace and order, daughter of Zeus and Themis.
Peyto- goddess of persuasion, companion of Aphrodite, often identified with her patroness.
Persephone- daughter of Demeter and Zeus, goddess of fertility. The wife of Hades and the queen of the underworld, who knew the secrets of life and death.
Polyhymnia- the muse of serious hymn poetry.
Tethys- daughter of Gaia and Uranus, wife of Ocean and mother of the Nereids and Oceanids.
Rhea- mother of the Olympian gods.
Sirens- female demons, half-woman, half-bird, capable of changing the weather at sea.
Waist- the muse of comedy.
Terpsichore- muse of dance art.
Terpsichore. Muse of dancing
Description:
The statue of "Terpsichore" is a Roman copy of a Greek original from the 3rd - 2nd centuries. BC
Terpsichore was considered the muse of choral singing and dance, and was depicted as a young woman in the pose of a dancer, with a smile on her face. She had a wreath on her head, in one hand she held a lyre, and in the other a plectrum. She is “enjoying round dances.”
Tisiphone- one of the Erinyes.
Quiet- goddess of fate and chance among the Greeks, companion of Persephone. She was depicted as a winged woman standing on a wheel and holding a cornucopia and a ship's rudder in her hands.
Urania- one of the nine muses, patroness of astronomy.
Themis- Titanide, goddess of justice and law, second wife of Zeus, mother of mountains and moira.
Charites- goddess of female beauty, the embodiment of a kind, joyful and eternally young beginning of life.
Eumenides- another hypostasis of the Erinyes, revered as goddesses of benevolence, who prevented misfortunes.
Eris- daughter of Nikta, sister of Ares, goddess of discord.
Erinyes- goddesses of vengeance, creatures of the underworld, who punished injustice and crimes.
Erato- Muse of lyrical and erotic poetry.
Eos- goddess of the dawn, sister of Helios and Selene. The Greeks called it “rose-fingered.”
Euterpe- muse of lyrical chant. Depicted with a double flute in her hand.
In order to express our admiration for the work of a particular author or artist, we often use the expression “he or she was visited by a muse.” Who are the muses and where did this expression come from?
According to the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, the supreme god Zeus was not always moral and often fathered children with different goddesses. And the muses are no exception - they appeared from his connection with the goddess of memory Mnemosyne. And each of them was the patroness of some kind of art or science. Along with the patron of art, Apollo, they themselves decided who to reward with what.
There were nine muses in total:
Clio is the muse of history;
Melpomene - the muse of tragedy;
Thalia is the muse of comedy;
Calliope is the muse of epic poetry;
Terpsichore – muse of dance;
Polyhymnia - the muse of sacred hymns;
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 the Greeks, they lived on Mount Olympus with Apollo and were always having fun and lounging around.
Clio
The Muse of History was depicted with parchment. In it, she also outlined the chronology of events so that there would be something to pass on to descendants. She was too moral and pragmatic, even on the topic of love; according to legend, she had a quarrel with Aphrodite because of Aphrodite’s forbidden love for Adonis (Aphrodite was married to the ugly god Hephaestus, but often cheated on him).
Melpomene
She was depicted with a wreath on her head, wearing a robe, and in her hands she had a mask depicting sadness. The great Greek tragedians dedicated all their tragedies to her, and she was the muse of such geniuses of tragedies as Euripides or Aeschylus. She was also the mother of sea sirens, who captivated sailors with their wondrous voice.
Waist
If the muse of tragedy had a mask of sadness in her hands, then the muse of comedy Talia had a mask depicting laughter and joy. The master of comedy Aristophanes was gifted with it.
Calliope
The mother of one of the famous heroes of Greek myths and legends - Orpheus. Apparently, he inherited the gift of a singer from her. In the sculptures, she holds a small book of poetry in her hands.
Terpsichore
She was depicted with a lyre. And it was believed that she gifted those dancers who feel the rhythm of the heart, soul and music. Only in this harmonious combination was the presence of the muse felt.
Polyhymnia
The famous orator Cicero more than once sought the help of this muse so that she would gift him with smooth and intelligent speech. It was believed that if a speaker speaks confidently and does not stumble, it means he has a gift from the muse herself.
Euterpe
All those who knew how to compose sensual lines were called followers of Euterpe.
Erato
And finally, how to do without the gift of love. Many lovers turned to her in difficult moments of separation and asked for reunification with their beloved or loved one. Her head was decorated with roses as a symbol of eternal love.
Urania
Urania, the muse of science, holds a globe and compass. She is the smartest of the sisters, therefore, whoever has mastered the granite of science is, therefore, gifted by Urania herself.
Muses Muses
(Musae, Μου̃σαι). Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. There were nine of them, and each of them had influence on a certain branch of the arts and sciences. They were as follows: Calliope - the muse of epic, Clio - history, Erato - love poetry and facial expressions, Euterpe - lyric poetry, Melpomene - tragedy, Polyhymnia - hymns, Terpsichore - dances, Thalia - comedy and Urania - astronomy. Their favorite location was Mount Helicon in Boeotia, where the sacred springs of Aganippus and Hippocrene were located. Mount Parnassus was also considered the sacred mountain of the muses, and they loved the Castalia spring at its foot. As goddesses of singing, the muses are in close connection with Apollo, who was called the leader of the muses, or Muzaget. The Roman Camenae are the same as the Greek muses, who were originally nymphs of the springs.
(Source: “A Brief Dictionary of Mythology and Antiquities.” M. Korsh. St. Petersburg, edition by A. S. Suvorin, 1894.)
MUSESMuss (Μοΰσαι, “thinking”), Aonids, Aonian sisters, Parnasids, Castalids, Ipokrenids, Pierides (nicknames from the habitats of M.), in Greek mythology, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosynes. M. - goddesses of poetry, arts and sciences, nine sisters born in Pieria and bearing the name “Olympian” (Hes. Theog. 52-54, 915-917; Hymn. Nosh. Ill 429 next). Their names: Calliope, Clio, Melpomene, Euterpe, Erato, Terpsichore, Thalia, Polyhymnia, Urania; all of them, with the exception of U ranni (“heavenly”) and Clio (“bestowing glory”), indicate a connection with singing, dancing, music, pleasure. These Olympic M. go back to the archaic M. - chthonic creatures. According to Pausanias, the first who honored M. and made sacrifices to them on Helicon were not poets and singers, but terrible giants loada - From and Ephialtes. They introduced the cult of M. and gave them names, believing that there were only three M.: Meleta (“experience”), Mnema (“memory”), Aoida (“song”). Over time, Pier (after whom the mountain was named) arrived from Macedonia, he established the number M. (nine) and gave them names. The poet Mimnermus claimed that there were the eldest M. - the daughters of Uranus (heaven) and Gaia (earth) and the younger ones - the daughters of Zeus (Paus. IX 29 1-5).
The chthonic past of M. is also evidenced by the offspring that M, being daughters of the earth Gaia, gave birth to both from Zeus and from Apollo. From Zeus and Calliope [(Strab. X 3, 19), according to another version, from Thalia and Apollo (Apollod. I 3, 4)] were born Corybantes. The children of the zoomorphic Zeus the kite and Thalia were Sicilian sticks. From the marriage of Melpomene and the river god Achelous are born sirens. - mixanthropic monstrous creatures that attract travelers with their singing and devour them (Apollod. I 3, 4). Archaic M. were called “stormy”, “violent” (Greek thoyrides, the same root as Latin furia), as reported by Hesychius (v. thoyrides). M. were called nurses of Dionysus (Eustath. 1816, 4) and companions of his wanderings (Diod. IV 4), like maenadam. M. and maenads are sometimes put on the same level (for example, King Lycurgus was punished by Dionysus for persecuting the maenads and M., Soph. Antig. 962 next). The Helikonian inscription compares Terpsichore and Dionysus Bromius, she has the gift of inspiration and ivy, he has the ability to enchant and a flute. Orpheus, who established the mysteries of Dionysus, the son of Calliope and Eager (Apollod. I 3, 2-3). Singer Lin. son of Calliope (or Urania) and Amphimar, son of Poseidon. The stormy and ecstatic M. was led by Dionysus Musaget - “the driver of M.” Dionysus Melpomenes (CIA III 274) was revered in Acharnae (Paus. I 31, 6), he, like Apollo, led round dances (I 2, 5). M. are cruel and severely punish anyone who dares to compete with them. They blinded and deprived of the gift of singing and playing the cithara Thamyris(Apollod. I 3, 3).
The Olympian M. of classical mythology are the daughters of Zeus, they live on Helicon, chanting all generations of gods - Gaia, Kronos, Ocean, Night, Helios, Zeus himself and his offspring, i.e. they connect the past and the present. They know the past, present and future. They are the patrons of singers and musicians and pass on their gift to them. They instruct and console people, endow them with persuasive words, glorify the laws and glorify the good morals of the gods. Classical M. are inseparable from the orderliness and harmony of the Olympic world (Hes. Theog. 1-103).
The functions of M. were gradually differentiated as the arts differentiated, and in the Hellenistic era M. turned into symbolic images: Erato - M. of lyric poetry with a lyre in his hands, Euterpe with a flute accompanies a lyrical song, Calliope - M. of epic poetry and knowledge with a scroll and writing stick, Clio - M. history with the same attributes, Melpomene - M. tragedy with a tragic mask and a wreath of ivy, Polyhymnia - M. serious hymn poetry, Terpsichore - M. dance with a lyre and plectrum Thalia - M. comedy with comic mask, Urania - M. astronomy with the firmament and compass. M. usually perform under the leadership of the god of arts Apollo, who received the name Musaget (I 2, 5).
Lit.; Losev A.F., Olympic mythology in its socio-historical development, “Scientific notes of the Moscow City Pedagogical Institute named after. Lenin", 1953. t. 72, v. 3, p. 37-40; him. Ancient mythology in its historical development, M., 1957, p. 306-13; Vouance R., Le culte des muses chez les philosophes grecs, P.. 1937; Curtiue E. R., Die Musen, in his book: Europäischen Literatur und lateinisches Mittelalter, 2 Aufl., Bonn, , s. 235-52; Otto W. V.. Die Musen und der göttliche Ursprung des Sin-gens und Sagens, .
A.F. Losev.
(Source: “Myths of the Peoples of the World.”)
MusesDaughters of the god Zeus and the Titanides Mnemosyne, goddesses living on Parnassus - patroness of sciences, poetry and the arts: Euterpe - lyric poetry, Clio - history, Thalia - comedy, Melpomene - tragedy, Terpsichore - dancing, Erato - love poetry, Polyhymnia - pantomime and hymns , Urania - astronomy, Calliope - epic poetry. The muses had their own temples, which were called museions (from this word the “museum” came).
// A.S. PUSHKIN: Muse // N.A. Kuhn: APOLLO AND THE MUSES
(Source: “Myths of Ancient Greece. Dictionary-reference book.” EdwART, 2009.)
MUSESin Greek mythology, the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of memory, Mnemosyne, goddess of the arts and sciences.
(Source: “Dictionary of spirits and gods of German-Scandinavian, Egyptian, Greek, Irish, Japanese, Mayan and Aztec mythologies.”)
See what “Muses” are in other dictionaries:
Greek musa. The ancient Greeks had nine sisters who patronized the sciences and arts: Klie (with a bundle) the muse of history, Calliope the muse of heroic poetry, Melpomene (with a tragic mask) the muse of tragedy, Thalia (with a shepherd’s staff and a comic... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
Muses- Muses. Fragment of the painting of a white background lekythos by the artist Achilles: Muse with a lyre on Mount Helicon. OK. 440 BC Private collection. MUSES (Muses), in Greek mythology, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, nine sisters, goddesses of the sciences, poetry and arts: Euterpe... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (muses) in the myths of the ancient Greeks, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, nine sisters, goddesses of science, poetry and the arts: Euterpe of lyric poetry, Clio of history, Thalia of comedy, Melpomene of tragedy, Terpsichore of dances, Erato of love poetry, Polyhymnia of hymns, ... ... Historical Dictionary
Deities of Greek religion who personified poetic and musical inspiration. The ideas about M. are based on the beliefs of the chthonic religion, which saw the source of all inspiration and mysterious knowledge in underground and water forces. M.... ... Literary encyclopedia
In Greek mythology, the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the patron goddess of science, poetry and the arts: Euterpe of lyric poetry, Clio of history, Thalia of comedy, Melpomene of tragedy, Terpsichore of dance, Erato of love poetry, Polyhymnia of hymns, Urania... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Kameny Dictionary of Russian synonyms ... Dictionary of synonyms
- (Mousai) mythical female creatures among the ancient Greeks. Homer (in the Iliad) and ancient poetry more often name only one M., who knows everything that a person wants to know about the gods, the secrets of the universe and the destinies of heroes; she gives news about all this to those who sing... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron
This term has other meanings, see Muse (meanings). Sarcophagus of the Muses (2nd century AD ... Wikipedia
Muses- (Greek Musai) in Greek mythology, the patron goddess of songs, poetry, art and sciences, the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of memory Mnemosyne (or Uranus and Gaia). Hesiod also calls them goddesses of dance and indicates their number 9: Clio m. history, Euterpe m.... ... Ancient world. Dictionary-reference book.
MUSES- According to Hesiod's Theogony, the nine muses were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. The Muses gave Hesiod wisdom and the gift of song. Sometimes the muses took a certain payment for such a gift: for example, in the Odyssey they first blinded Demodocus, and only then gave him something... ... Dictionary-reference book on Ancient Greece and Rome, on mythology
