In Ancient Greek mythology of a muse – goddesses, patronesses of arts and sciences. From three to eleven muses are mentioned in different sources, the number of these goddesses is equal in classical tradition to nine.
Muses and their origin
Initially, according to Plutarch, muses was three. You grind, to Mnema and Aonida. The first is given birth from the movement of water, the second – air, and the third from sounds of a human voice. Over time the number of muses increased, in their classical tradition became nine and they began to be considered as daughters of Mnemozina, the goddess of memory, and Zeus. Also it is possible to find legends that nymphs of the sources proceeding on the Mount Helicon became muses in literature. They regenerated after to the earth near them the winged horse of Pegasus struck with a hoof.
Mnemozina is a daughter of titans Gays and Uranium.
God Apollo who in honor of it sometimes is named Musaget that in translation from Greek is meant by "the driver of muses" was considered as the patron of muses.
Calliope
Kalliopa is a muse of epic poetry. Her name is designated by "prekrasnogolosy". This muse was represented with the wax plate and the stylus – a stick for the letter. Kalliopa was mother of the famous ingenious musician and the singer – Orpheus and was considered as the most important muse.
Clio
Clio – a muse of history, it is possible to recognize by a roll in hands. She gave to Greeks the Phoenician alphabet and thought up a genre of geroiko-historical poetry.
In honor of Clio one of craters on Venus is called.
Erato
Muse of erotic poetry call Erato that is meant by "passionate". She is considered the goddess patronizing mimes and also parrots and crows.
Euterpe
Evterpa – a muse of lyrical poetry – is recognized by a flute in hands. Her name is meant "by those that is happy". Evterpa – the most cheerful of muses, she patronizes flutists.
Polyhymnia
Poligimniya is a muse gloomy and fine, responsible for eloquence and sacred anthems. Most often she is represented as the serious and thoughtful woman, sometimes with the forefinger brought to a mouth.
Melpomene
A patroness of the tragedy is the muse Melpomene, her symbol the mask representing grief. Melpomene is often dressed in buskins – special shoes which were worn by the actors playing in Ancient Greek tragedies.
Terpsichore
That that is happy in dance – is so translated a name of a muse of dances and choral singing of Terpsikhor. This goddess generated sweet-voiced sirens. She is represented with lira in hands.
Thalia
Waist – a muse the patroness of the comedy and bucolic poetry. It is represented with a mask of the comedian or with a shepherd's staff. The name of this muse is translated as "blossoming".
Urania
A patroness of astronomy and astrology is the muse Urania. It is represented with compasses in one hand and the globe in another.