Women, Weird and Wonderful: The Muses, daughters of Zeus (Jupiter) and Memory

As a lady in ancient Greece, you weren’t supposed to excel in anything. Yet nobody questioned the talent of the Muses, patronesses of arts and science (hence “music”). They were the daughters of Zeus and his fifth wife, Mnemosyne, goddess of memory (hence “amnesia”). Polyhymnia inspired hymn writers, Terpsichore lead the dance, Melpomene specialised in tragedy and Thalia in comedy. Kalliope provided epos-material, Euterpe wrote moving poetry, and Erato ventured into the “erotic” genre. Klio helped historians to separate the real from the alternative facts, and Ourania knew the mysteries of the universe. Together with the winged horse Pegasos, they lived on Mount Helikon, that grew higher when they sang and danced together. Its grass was so sweet, that snakes lost their poisonous bite, and there were three inspiring springs. But don’t get too inspired… When the Pierid-sisters demonstrated some talent of their own, they were changed into birds. Not nightingales or song trushes, but magpies. Nobody messes with the Muses.

Clio, fresco Pompeï, Italy

Melpomene, Sarcophagus of the Muses, Musée du Louvre, Paris, France

Did you know?

• All nine muses sung at the funeral of Achilles.

• Mount Helikon and Mount Parnassos are linked mountainranges. Apollo’s oracle of Delphi is on Mount Parnassos, while Mount Helikon is associated with the Muses.

• At Mount Helikon, the (poet inspiring) Hippokrene-spring was created when Pegasos (Pegasus) aimed his hoof at a rock.

• When assaulted by king Pyreneus, the Muses flew away through a high window. Pyreneus jumped after them and fell to his death.

• There’s no Muse for figurative art like paining or sculpting.

• Mnemosyne is listed here as Zeus’ (Jupiter's) fifth wife, but other myths give different orders.