Let's pause for a moment and think of the devastation caused by rampant roaring fires of large parts of Greece. I think that a prayer is needed. Amen. Thank you all.
Introduction
The nine Muses of Greek mythology are the goddess daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. She symbolised the memory of all great events.
Even today we remember her. Mnemonic is a word or device that helps the memory.
The Muses had one thing in common. They enjoyed being near springs and bubbling water. They have been revered by artists and poets for millennia but today the word "muse" is often used to describe mere mortals that inspire creative artists.
The World of Greek Mythology
It's advisable to get a quick overview of the entire Greek mythology hierarchy in order to clearly establish in one's mind where the muses fit in.
The following general information was taken form the internet at:
http://www.greekmythology.com/
GreekMythology.com has information on all subjects of Greek Mythology, including details on Greek Gods and Greek Goddesses, Greek Myths and Greek Heroes like Achilles and Hercules. It also has full text of Greek Mythology and Literature books. You can freely use all information in this site for term papers, research papers, college essays and homework papers. Click on the links below for further info.
Olympian Gods Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Aris, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis, Hephaestus
Titans Gaea, Uranus, Cronus, Rhea, Oceanus, Tethys, Hyperion, Mnemosyne, Themis, Iapetus, Coeus, Crius, Phoebe, Thea, Prometheus, Epimetheus, Atlas, Metis
Other Gods Demeter, Persephone, Dionysus, Eros, Hebe, Eris, Helios, Thanatos, Pan, Nemesis, The Graces, The Muses, The Erinnyes, The Fates
Myths The Creation, The Creation II, Creation of Man by Prometheus, Zeus's Lovers, Birth of Athena, The Wanderings of Dionysus, Theseus Adventures
Creatures Cyclopes, Hecatoncheires, Giants, Ash Tree Nymphs, Typhoeus, Cerberus, Sirens, Centaur, Medusa, Argus Panoptes, Chimaera, Echidna, Gorgons, Pegasus, Chrysaor
Figures Epaphus, The Pleiades, Pontus, Nereus, Doris, Nereids, Amphitrite, Triton, Teiresias, Minos, Rhadamanthus
Places Mount Olympus, The Underworld, Tartarus
Heroes Perseus, Theseus, Bellerophon, Atlanta, Heracles, Meleager
Online Books Bulfinch's Mythology, The Odyssey, The Iliad, Argonautica,
Hesiod Theogony
Classic Literature Aeschylus, Euripides, Sophocles, Aristophanes, Plato, Aesop
The Nine Muses
There are only nine and their names and their fields of art and science are:
Calliope (The Chief Muse) Epic or historical poetry and eloquence
Clio History and celebrations
Erato Love poetry and mime
Euterpe Lyrical poetry and music
Melpomene Tragedy
Terpsichore Dancing and choral song
Thalia Comedy and pastoral poetry
Urania Astronomy and astrology
Polyhymnia Song, sacred rhetoric, geometry and inventor of the lyre
Suggestion
Ah...but now comes the interesting part. I'm going to see to what extent I've laid humbly before each of the above muses.
Why don't you do the same? Have you written epic poems...and love poems...and tragedies...dancing poems...and sacred poems? Make your own lists and see how far you get.
Here is my own list:
1. An Epic Poem inspired by Calliope: " I Cry With You For Persepolis"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976937638
3. Love Poems inspired by Erato: "Last Night Was Long Ago"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977064246
"Desert Winds"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977036502
"A Touch of Saffron"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976776598
4.Lyrical Poetry inspired by Euterpe : "A Poet's Gift"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976930604
5. A Tragedy inspired by Melpomene: "Brown Eyed Girl of Kabul"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976861037
6. A Dancing Song inspired by Terpsichore: "I saw My Grandmother Dancing"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977007058
7.Comedies inspired by Thalia: "My Horse Drinks Wine on Saturday Night"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977070083
"A Simple Man's Love Poem"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977076762
8.Astronomical tribute to Urania: "When a Star is Banned"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977061436
9. Sacred and Geometry tributes to Polyhymnia: "Do Believers Laugh?"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976930604
"One and One"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976776598
NOTE; This is a work in progress. It will be completed over the next few days
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Comments: 44
Perhaps you can find one...or two??? Anyway I'm glad to see you around.
I have never thought of listing my poems under genres. But let's see...
Clio: Well, maybe Aurangzeb qualifies...
Erato: written some, but never published here..
Urania: guess Does Time flow ...that ought to make the cut.
Euterpe: I'm trying, I'm trying :)
Thank you again, Fred, for bringing literature and it's meanings closer to us.
By the way, during college I was mighty fascinated by Greek mythology to the extent that I began signing my poems as Minakshi Minerva!!!! :P
I'm an engineer BTW and so I, in the past, I didn't know how I dared to write...but I did it anyway.
Can you still lay your hands on some of your oems?
If you like I can help you go through your archives.
I think that you have a great sense of humour Minnie. I'm so glad that I know you. You so often make my day.
But on second thoughts, seriously??? You would??
Then pleeeeaase do help me !
I've seen many of your poems that are outstanding.
I'm the same as you. I don't plan anything. The thoughts just come to me. It's all done by magic.
Give it your best shot. Maybe you're missing out in an area where you will really shine.
The day has only so many hours.
Come Minnie let's see how it goes. If I need help from you I'll yell.
You are with Erata. You two are the ones that will keep us pulsing with energy and ready to explore new paths of emotion. Sorry but your poems have booked you a place in passionate love poems that will leave us in a state of wonder. Ecstatic wonder.
But one thing we ALL have,...MAGIC,
And that's what's so special. We have that MAGIC.
Where's Clio? Let's celebrate.
Hi Krista. Clever lad? Well thank you. I like that.
Marge. I'm convinced that you are a poet. In your heart there's a poem right now. Why don't do write it down and post it here.
Fatima, thanks for that...and I don't think that your Sufi influences can be categorised...we all love your poetry..Derf, Dagnyella and me, that is :)
no dracula league, yaar! And Dominique is my distorted Dominnie--courtesy Dagny--courtsey the same John we fell in love with --years ago.. :P
Fred is going to KILL me for this!!!!
Fine, Dramaq...or DQ... :p
Check out my poem Greeks in my bed....
Otherwise, I think I can count erato and thalia, for love and pastoral.
Cool post, Fred.
The Muses have no male equivalents; it would be a second thought not unlike Father's Day. The only similarly powerful (actually probably more powerful) cliche I can think of would be the Fates.
But I used to think I was built like a Greek god but the mirrors always disagreed!
Alter muses? Hmmmm
John Galt??? Were you both in love with Ayn Rand's John Galt? My fav book next to Fountainhead.
Alter Muses? Fatima there is more to the muses than what I wrote here. I'll add what you think is missing when I wake up.
I'm half a sleep DQ.
I think that WE are the Alter Muses. It's for us to change the face of poetry. We must write like never before done.
Now I'm going to bed. You're onto something big.
Ps I love being Hijacked . Mmmmm. I feel a poem coming up. But first I sleep. It's 4 am here.
Hugs and blessings from your Russian friend - S.
Thanks for the wonderful, informative article.
Maybe my next attempt will be better. Hey, when I'm this bad, I can only improve, right?
Come and look. This site has been udated and much info on Greek mythology added.
I ope that we'll have the complete picture soon.
I've become very fascinated by what I've learned. I hope that you have too.
I've also added my tributes to each muse. Well some of them at least. There are still some more to add.
Pease tell Hyjakos that she was lost but now found. In fact we'll gladly hy jack her.
Tell her to come and join us at the muses' fountain.
Diva=great artist or singer.
To me you'll be the muse of light. Whenever you appear someone says who switched on the light?
If you will respond my response will be rewarded.
Iwill indeed come to see the Greeks in your bed. Hmmmm. Most intriguing.
Come Jane and stay for a while. The muses have returned and will remain here with us.
Gather will be their fountain.
Carol...I can't imagine that you, who plays roles in the lives of poets, can't compose.
Come, hold my hand and let's begin. Tell me what burns inside of you.
Hahaha Tom. Hades is a destination...to be avoided if at all possible. We would love to read your poems. Erate and thalia? What could be better?
Please send us that photo. It may become our icon. hanks for the visit. Pease come again.
Banquet away...our travels together will be exercise enough. We have worlds to discover.
May the muses laugh with you and rejoice under waterfalls of flowing mountain water.
We'll have dreams too but none will imprison us.
i read the list loud of all the Gods and Godessess and surprisingly they were quite familiar ...I can't remember where I have read and exactly what but they are very familiar
I loved the idea of listing poems under muses ...and this is my task for this month ...to have atleast one poem under each category
BTw ...I read a story about rabindra nath Tagore in school" dear to all the muses " and when teacher explained that it meant he was an artist par excellence in many fields of art ...It struck to me somewhere ..normally its said jack of all trades ..but here there was a person dear to all the muses ...
lets see how many muses will be amused by my work ..:-)