Muses

The daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, nine in number, were Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Ourania, and Calliope. Hesiod remarks that the last of these was the most powerful of them all. In later legend each of the Muses was associated with one of the arts. Their most ancient shrine was at Leibethros on Olympus, another at Pampleia, and a third at Pieria. From hence their worship spread at an early period to Boeotia on Mt. Helicon. The first city to honour the Muses was Ascra, followed by Thespiae. The Muses did not possess temples, only altars. The Thespians held games every five years in their honour known as the Museia. In Athens they were worshipped at the site of Helicon, a hill near the banks of the Ilissus and at the Museum, a peak near the Acropolis. Their statues were set up in the temple of Melpomenes Dionysos. These deities were also worshipped in Sicyon, Sparta, Olympia, Tegea, Megalopolis, and [p. 40] Dorium in Messenia. The traditional realm of arts with which they were associated were as follows: Clio of history, Euterpe of the double flute, Thalia of bucolic poetry then of comedy, Melpomene of tragedy, Terpsichore of the dance and choruses of tragedy, initially, then subsequently of lyric poetry, and Erato of marriage song or love poetry. Polyhymnia inspired first the hymns and sacred songs to the gods and heroes, then became the patron of learning and memory, principally of mimes. Ourania of astronomy, and Calliope of epic poetry. [pp. 50-51]

[Kyriazis, Constantine D. Eternal Greece. Translated by Harry T. Hionides. A Chat Publication.]

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