>9 Muses? Who knew?

But I found this very interesting: Muses, The Goddesses of Art and Science. An aside–one specifically aimed at my CP–I was introduced to this little tidbit of Greek Mythology in a tarot class.

Okay, so here they are:

Calliope (Muse of Epic Poetry)
Clio (Muse of History)
Erato (Muse of Love Poetry)
Euterpe (Muse of Music)
Melpomene (Muse of Tragedy)
Polyhymnia (Muse of Hymns)
Terpsichore (Muse of Dance)
Thaleia (Muse of Comedy)
Urania (Muse of Astronomy)

Pretty names, don’t you think? Check out the info below and tell me which one or ones speak to you.

Calliope was the Muse of Epic and Lyric Poetry

Calliope was the eldest and wisest of the 9 Muses. She was the most excellent Muse of all, accompanying respectable royalties on their way.

Calliope was the favorite Muse of the Greek poet Homer, many even consider Calliope being the actual mother of Homer. Another child of Calliope was said to have been Orpheus, a famous musician and poet in ancient Greece.

In depictions Calliope can be seen crowned with gold, holding a writing tablet or a volume of Homer’s Odyssey in her hand.

Muse Clio(Cleio) was the goddess of epic poetry and history and is also considered to be the inventor of the guitar.

Clio once fell madly in love with the King of Macedonia, Pierus and with Pierus she created the beautiful Hyacinth, the lover of Greek god Apollo.

Clio is often depicted dressed in purple with laurels on her hair, in the one hand holding a cornet and in the other a book, the book Cleio used to write history.

Erato was the Muse of lyric love poetry, hymns and wedding songs.

Erato was the Muse and defender of love affairs and its said that she was the one who actually invented the art of dancing.

Erato is mostly depicted holding a guitar in her hands.

Euterpe, the so-called “Giver of Pleasure”, was the Muse of Music.

At classical times, Euterpe became also associated with Lyric Poetry and sometimes Sports. Euterpe was mainly depicted holding a flute.

When the Greek river Strymon once lied with Euterpe, Euterpe brought to life a son with the name Rhesus. Rhesus was a hero of Homer’ s Iliad, who was killed by Greek hero Diomedes during the Trojan War.

As her name suggests, Melpomene was the Muse of “Molpe”, i.e. the divine intonation. However, Melpomene was mainly considered as the Muse of Tragedy.

Melpomene was usually portrayed with a tragic mask, although sometimes she was also presented wearing with buskins and a crown of wine leaves on her hair.

Polyhymnia was the Muse of the divine hymns, sacred poetry, geometry and mimetism.

Polyhymnia is often depicted like a very strict and thinking deity, with a wrath of daphne in her hair, looking up to the sky and expressing herself with gestures while playing the lyre.

Terpsichore (“terpo”=delight + “chorus”=dance), was the Muse of the Dance and the Dramatic Chorus. Most of the times,Terpsichore was depicted playing a lyre, while other symbols of hers included the triangle and the flute.

Terpsichore was also consideed to have been the mother of the divine singing Sirens.

Thaleia was the Greek Muse of Comedy.

Thaleia was the Greek Muse of comedy and pastoral poetry. She had eyes that flowed love and is often depicted holding a comic mask. The main attribute of Thalia was a shepherd’s crook.

According to some mythologists claim that Thaleia was also the Muse of vegetation, interpreting from the origin of her name “thalo”, i.e. “bloom”.

Urania was the muse of Astronomy and Astrology as she was able to foretell the future by the position of the stars. Urania was also a defender of love passion.

Oftentimes Urania was depicted holding a globe in her hands.