Myths

1. Myths Muses

2. Sources • Homer (circa 800 bc): • The Iliad and The Odyssey • Hesiod (circa 750 bc) • Theogony: Greek version of creation of the world Other ancient sources

3. Invocations • Most ancient works of literature begin with an invocation to the muses • Homer’s Iliad begins with the lines “Sing, O Muse, of the wrath of Achilles”. • Hesiod’s work also begins with calling on the muses for inspiration in telling his tales. • Vergil calls on the muses when writing his great Roman epic The Aeneid.

4. Muses • The muses were Greek goddesses, daughters of Zeus and the goddess Mnemosyne. They were who inspired humans when they wished to create within the sphere of the arts. • The Romans numbered them as nine and gave them names and specific areas of expertise.

5. Muse name: sphere; symbol • Calliope: epic poetry; writing tablet • Clio: history; scrolls • Erato: love poetry; cithara (like a lute) • Euterpe: Song and elegaic poetry; Aulos (like a flute) • Melpomene: tragedy; tragedy mask • Polyhymnia: hymns; veil • Terpsichore: dance; lyre and tambourine • Thalia: comedy; comic mask • Urania: astronomy; globe and compass

6. Continuing • The term muse is used to talk about any source of inspiration. It is often used to talk about young women who may be expert in a field of the arts or who inspire someone to create for or about them. Dante’s Divine Comedy has a muse, Beatrice, a woman who he loved from afar. He dedicates his work to her and states that her goodness and beauty are what inspires him.