Muses

Muses in Greek religion and mythology, patron goddesses of the arts, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Originally only three, they were later considered as nine. Calliope was the Muse of epic poetry and eloquence; Euterpe, of music or of lyric poetry; Erato, of the poetry of love; Polyhymnia (or Polymnia), of oratory or sacred poetry; Clio, of history; Melpomene, of tragedy; Thalia, of comedy; Terpsichore, of choral song and dance; Urania, of astronomy. Some say that Apollo was their leader. Early places of their worship were the district of Pieria, in Thessaly, where they were often called Pierides, and Mt. Helicon, in Boeotia. The springs of Castalia, Aganippe, and Hippocrene were sacred to them.

muses In classical mythology, nine daughters of the Titan Mnemosyne (memory) and Zeus. Calliope was the muse of epic poetry, Clio of history, Erato of love poetry, Euterpe of lyric poetry, Polyhymnia of song, Melpomene of tragedy, Terpsichore of dance, Thalia of comedy, and Urania of astronomy.

Muses, The. Three of the nine Muses in Greek mythology, daughters of Mnemosyne the goddess of memory, were particularly connected with the theatre—Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy; Terpsichore, the Muse of dancing; and Thalia, the Muse of comedy.