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The Muses

(January 22, 2007)

We often hear artists talk about inspiration coming to them from The Muses. The words music, and museum come from their name. So just who are these mythical benefactors of creativity that we hear so much about?

It turns out The Muses are nine sisters. Immortal goddesses, in fact. Born from the union of Zeus, king of the gods, and his consort, Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. They grew up as water nymphs, bathing in the springs at the base of Mt. Helius. Sacred springs formed by the hooves of Pegasus, the winged horse, who was never far away. Springs from which they derived their powers of artistic inspiration. Below is a painting of the young Muses by Claude Lorraine (1600 - 1682).

(Click on image to enlarge)

As they grew and developed into The Muses, the great Apollo, god of the Sun, became their companion and their protector. He took Calliope, the first born of the sisters, to his bed, and fathered Orpheus and Linus with her, who both became great musicians. Calliope, whose name means beautiful voice, is the wisest of the Muses, and their leader. She became the Muse of eloquence, and epic poetry, and is said to have inspired Homer to write the Iliad, and the Odyssey. Below is a painting of Calliope (with her book of poems), and her sister Urania, the Muse of astronomy, with her globe and crown of stars. The painting is by Simon Vouets (1590 - 1649).

(Click on image to enlarge)


Their sister, Clio, became the Muse of history. Her name means to make famous.
Euterpe (you-TER-pee), whose name means to give great pleasure, became the Muse of music.
Their sister Thalia became the Muse of comedy.
The painting below of Clio, Euterpe, and Thalia is by Eustache le Sueur (1616 - 1655).
(Click on image to enlarge)


The sister Erato, which means lovely, became the Muse of love and erotic poetry.
Polyhymnia became the Muse of sacred song, and Melpomene became the Muse of tragedy.
The painting below of these three sisters is also by Eustache le Sueur.
(Click on image to enlarge)


Finally, we have a painting by Jean-Marc Nattier (1685-1766) of Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance.
(Click on image to enlarge)


Below is a painting of Apollo surrounded by all his nine Muses, by Simon Vouet (1590 - 1649).
(Click on image to enlarge)

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