Muses

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the **Muses** (Ancient Greek: Μοῦσαι, *Moũsai*, Modern Greek: Μούσες) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric songs, and myths that were related orally for centuries in ancient Greek culture.

The word "muse" can refer in general to anyone or anything which inspires an artist, musician, or writer.

## Etymology:

The word "Muses" (Ancient Greek: Μοῦσαι, *Moũsai*) perhaps came from the o-grade of the Proto-Indo-European root \**men-* (the basic meaning of which is "put in mind" in verb formations with transitive function and "have in mind" in those with intransitive function),[3] or from root \**men-* ("to tower, mountain") since all the most important cult-centres of the Muses were on mountains or hills.[4] R. S. P. Beekes rejects the latter etymology and suggests that a Pre-Greek origin is also possible.

## Mythology:

According to Hesiod's *Theogony* (seventh century BC), they were daughters of Zeus, king of the gods, and Mnemosyne, Titan goddess of memory. Hesiod in Theogony narrates that the Muses brought to people forgetfulness, that is, the forgetfulness of pain and the cessation of obligations.[18]

For Alcman and Mimnermus, they were even more primordial, springing from the early deities Ouranos and Gaia. Gaia is Mother Earth, an early mother goddess who was worshipped at Delphi from prehistoric times, long before the site was rededicated to Apollo, possibly indicating a transfer to association with him after that time.

Sometimes the Muses are referred to as water nymphs, associated with the springs of Helicon and with Pieris. It was said that the winged horse Pegasus touched his hooves to the ground on Helicon, causing four sacred springs to burst forth, from which the Muses, also known as pegasides, were born.[19][20] Athena later tamed the horse and presented him to the Muses (compare the Roman inspiring nymphs of springs, the Camenae, the Völva of Norse Mythology and also the apsaras in the mythology of classical India).

Classical writers set Apollo as their leader, *Apollon Mousagetēs* ("Apollo Muse-leader").[21] In one myth, the Muses judged a contest between Apollo and Marsyas. They also gathered the pieces of the dead body of Orpheus, son of Calliope, and buried them in Leivithra. In a later myth, Thamyris challenged them to a singing contest. They won and punished Thamyris by blinding him and robbing him of his singing ability.

According to a myth from Ovid's *Metamorphoses*—alluding to the connection of Pieria with the Muses—Pierus, king of Macedon, had nine daughters he named after the nine Muses, believing that their skills were a great match to the Muses. He thus challenged the Muses to a match, resulting in his daughters, the *Pierides*, being turned into chattering jays (with κίσσα often erroneously translated as magpies) for their presumption.[22]

Pausanias records a tradition of two generations of Muses; the first are the daughters of Ouranos and Gaia, the second of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Another, rarer genealogy is that they are daughters of Harmonia (the daughter of Aphrodite and Ares), which contradicts the myth in which they were dancing at the wedding of Harmonia and Cadmus.

## References:

-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muses

-https://www.ancient.eu/muse/

-https://www.thoughtco.com/the-greek-muses-119788

-https://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/nine-muses-in-greek-mythology/

-https://www.deviantart.com/terasart/art/The-Muses-409809751