1. The Nine Muses Μοῦσαι

2. The Muses The Muses are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne
The Muses are nymphs of the arts and sciences, inspire all artists, poets, philosophers, and musicians
Were companions of Apollo
They also preside over memory, as does their mother
Each Muse presided over a particular form of literature, art or science….

3. Calliope Eloquence and Epic poetry
Name means ‘fine voice’
Often depicted seated with a stylus and wax tablets
Chief of the Muses
She is said to be the mother of Orpheus, Hymen and Ialemus, Rhesus and Lynus
Homer’s inspiration for Illiad and the Oddysey

4. Melpomene Tragedy
Name comes from Greek melpein, ‘to sing’, she is known to have a beautiful singing voice
Often seen with a tragedy mask, not a severed head, wearing cothurnus, she wears the crown of cypress on her head and sometimes hold a club or knife covered in blood

5. Polyhymnia Rhetoric, Lyric, Oratory, Sacred Song, Agriculture and Pantomime
Serious and pensive
Seen holding a finger to her mouth, a flower, a pearl crown, holding a sceptre, resting on a pillar and veiled by a long white cloak
Inventor of the lyre
Brings fame to writers

6. ERato Love poetry
Name derived from eros (love), and her name translates as ‘passionate’
Represented in art with a myrtle bush, roses, holding a lyre or a bow, and sometimes with a golden arrow
Mother of Azan to Arcas

7. Clio History Name derived from Greek kleos, ‘Glory’
Had one son, Hyacinth with the Macedonian king, Pierus
Often depicted as a virgin with a laurel wreath, a trumpet, a book, and holding a parchment scroll or an overabundance of tablets

8. Terpsichore Choral singing and dance
Said to be the mother of the Sirens to Achelous
Provides the origin of the term terpsichorean, meaning ‘relating to dance’
Represented seated as a young woman crowned with a garland of flowers, holding a lyre, or dancing

9. Euterpe Music Referred to a ‘the Giver of Delight’
Impregnated by river-god Strymon, gave birth to Rhesus who was killed by Diomedes at Troy
Sometimes credited with inventing the flute, rather than the satyr Marsyas
Depicted as a maid with a flower garland, and her flute

10. Thalia Comedy and Pastoral poetry
A rustic Muse whose name means, ‘blossoming’
Gave birth to the Corybantes (dancers who worshipped Phygrian goddess Cybele), the father was Apollo
Portrayed with a comic mask, shephard’s staff, a wreath of ivy and wearing ankle boots
Shares her name with the Grace, Haphaestus’ daughter and a Nereid

11. Urania Astronomy and astrology
Name means ‘heavenly’
Can see the future in the stars
Always looks toward the heavens
Associated with the Universe and Holy Spirit
Often seen with a globe, a peg, a bar and standing on a turtle, which is a Greek symbol for silence

12. Sources http://olympianmythology.blogspot.com/2005/03/muses.html