The History of the Muses

The muses are the nine goddesses that hold power over the arts and inspire those excel at them. Nine is a multiple of three, which is the holy 
number of the goddess. The inspire, influence prophecy and psychic arts. These gifts are within the guidance of the dark moon.

They are the daughters of the Greek god Zeus and the Titaness Mnemosyne (memory). Each goddess contained power over certain areas of literature, 
arts, song, memory, or science. Calliope ruled over epic poetry: Euterpe, lyric poetry, Clio, history: Thalia, Comedy: Urania, astronomy: 
Melpomene, tragedy: Terpsichore, choral dance and song; Erato, love poetry; and Polyhymnia, sacred poetry.

Their areas of inspiration have evolved to meet modern day times. Urania deals with astrology; Thalia comedians; Melpomene inspires those who 
write tragedies; Clio, the trumpet player, helps historians record the past; Calliope, who is the leader, helps the writers and speaks of serious 
literature; Euterpe, the flute player, guides composers and those who play wind instruments; 

Terpsichore, the guitarist, aids players of string instruments and dance;

Polyhyminia assists actors and creators of song; and Erato inspires writers of romantic prose and poetry. 

Apollo is the leader of the nine muses, and their companions are: The Charities, The Horae, Eros, Dionysus, Aphrodite, Harmonia, and Himerus. 
Athena caught and tamed the well know dream horse we all know today. Pegasus. The Sphinx also learned her riddle from the muses. Aristaeus the 
arts of prophecy and healing. And Echo learns how to play music. Hera, who is the queen of the gods, summoned the sirens to enter and singing 
contest with the muses. When the muses won they took the feathers of the siren and made crowns of them.

Invoking the Muses

I invoke Thee, O Muses, from the darkness of my soul, 

For the inspiration that Thou wert placed here to give 

Nine goddesses of Creation, blessed daughters of Zeus and 

Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. 

Here in my chamber private, with the smell of Egyptian incense sweet,

I seek my communion with spirits of creation. 

Whom shall I invoke first? Calliope of the epic poem, Euterpe of the lyric?

Clio, muse of history, favored of her mother Mnemosyne; 

Melpomene of tragedy, Terpsichore of dance, Erato of love poetry, 

Polyhymnia, sacred poetry, Urania, muse of the stars, and Thalia of comedy. 

In my quest, I must invoke Thee all... 

See me through my sacred quest, placed upon me by Mnemosyne,

As I chronicle my wearisome voyage through Time,

To reclaim all that I am, was, and ever shall be.

 

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