The Greek goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences. They were believed to
inspire all
artists, especially
poets,
philosophers, and
musicians. The Muses were the daughters of
Zeus and
Mnemosyne, the
goddess of
memory.
The number of Muses varies over time; initially there was but one, and later there is mention of three: Melete, Mneme,
and Aoede. They were nymphs in Pieria, western Thrace, and their cult was brought to Helicon in Boeotia by the
Aloadae. Usually there is mention of nine muses: Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore,
Thalia, and Urania.
The Muses sat near the throne of Zeus, king of the gods, and sang of his greatness and of the origin
of the world and its inhabitants and the glorious deeds of the great heroes. From their name words
such as music, museum, mosaic are derived.