THE YOUNGER MUSES IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
The Younger Muses are mythological figures to be found in the stories of ancient Greece. Said to be nine beautiful, intelligent women, the Younger Muses were closely associated with the arts and sciences, and those that practiced them; acting as inspiration and guides.
The Birth of the Younger Muses
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The Younger Muses were so named to distinguish them from the three Elder Muses of an earlier period of Greek mythology. Hesiod, the famous Greek poet, would state that the Muses were the offspring of Zeus and the female Titan Mnemosyne.
Zeus was said to have visited Mnemosyne on nine consecutive nights, consummating their relationship on each night. |
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Hesiod, along with other sources, names the nine Younger Muses as; Calliope (Beautiful voice), Clio (Celebrate), Erato (Beloved), Euterpe (Giving Much Delight), Melpomene (Celebrate with Song), Polyhymnia (Many Hymns), Terpsichore (Delighting in Dance), Thalia (Blooming), and Ourania (Heavenly One).
The Muses Dancing with Apollo - Baldassarre Peruzzi - PD-art-100
The Role of the Muses and Hesiod
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Later writers in antiquity would ascribe each Muse a particular role; Calliope became the Muse of epic poetry; Clio, the Muse of history; Erato the Muse of erotic poetry; Euterpe, the Muse of lyric poetry; Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy; Polyhymnia, the muse of sublime hymns; Terpsichore, the Muse of choral song and dance; Thalia, the Muse of comedy; and Ourania, the Muse of astronomy.
The basic role of the Younger Muses though was to inspire the artist and the artisan. Hesiod would claim that when he was a shepherd, watching his flock on Mount Helicon, he himself was visited by the Muses. The Muses bestowed upon him the gift of writing and poetry, and inspired him to write his subsequent work. Hesiod’s most famous piece of work is the Theogony; which tells of the genealogy of the gods. This knowledge was said to have been passed to him directly by the Muses, and indeed the first section of the Theogony is dedicated to, and is written in praise of, the Muses. |
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Athena and the Muses - Hendrick van Balen the Elder (1573–1632) -PD-art-100
The Muses and Mount Olympus
Mount Helicon is an area of Greece is an area particularly associated with the worship of the muses, although the Younger Muses were normally said to be found upon Mount Olympus near to the seat of Zeus. Indeed it was said that the Younger Muses were brought into existence to tell of the greatness of Zeus and the other Olympian gods.
The Muses do appear in many other sources, and appear quite frequently in stories from Greek mythology. Often they were seen in company with other gods, especially with Apollo and the Charites, indeed it was often said that it was Apollo who tutored the Muses. Also the Younger Muses were also often portrayed in the company of Dionysus.
The Muses do appear in many other sources, and appear quite frequently in stories from Greek mythology. Often they were seen in company with other gods, especially with Apollo and the Charites, indeed it was often said that it was Apollo who tutored the Muses. Also the Younger Muses were also often portrayed in the company of Dionysus.
Apollo and the Muses - Anton Raphael Mengs (1728–1779) -PD-art-100
Muses Benefactors and antagonists
The Younger Muses were welcome guests at the feasts and celebrations held upon Mount Olympus, when they would entertain the guests; and are also mentioned as being present at the marriages of Eros and Psyche, Cadmus and Harmonia, and Peleus and Thetis. Equally though, the Younger Muses would appear at the funerals of notable heroes, including Achilles and Patroclus. Whilst the Muses would sing lamentations, their role was also to ensure that the greatness of the individual was remembered, and that the mourners did not stay in sadness forever. It was the Muses also who are said to have buried Orpheus.
The Muses were generally considered to be benefactors, and yet, like so many of the Olympian pantheon, had their vengeful side as well. The Muses were considered the best performers, and yet their position was often challenged. Thamyris, the Sirens and the Pierides all held contests against the Muses. In each case the Muses were victorious, and punished their opponents. Thamyris was blinded and had his skills taken away, the Sirens were plucked of their feathers, whilst the female Pierides were transformed into chattering birds.
The Muses today though are most remembered as the inspirers of artists, and is still a concept thought of nowadays, where people are said to have found their Muse. In antiquity artists would often dedicate their work to the Muses, probably believing that their skill came from divine intervention.
The Muses were generally considered to be benefactors, and yet, like so many of the Olympian pantheon, had their vengeful side as well. The Muses were considered the best performers, and yet their position was often challenged. Thamyris, the Sirens and the Pierides all held contests against the Muses. In each case the Muses were victorious, and punished their opponents. Thamyris was blinded and had his skills taken away, the Sirens were plucked of their feathers, whilst the female Pierides were transformed into chattering birds.
The Muses today though are most remembered as the inspirers of artists, and is still a concept thought of nowadays, where people are said to have found their Muse. In antiquity artists would often dedicate their work to the Muses, probably believing that their skill came from divine intervention.
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