Nativity of the Muses

 

June 13th is the Nativity of the Muses.  May you be blessed by their Inspiration!

"Cleio is so named because the praise which poets sing in their encomia bestows great glory (kleos) upon those who are praised; Euterpe, because she gives to those who hear her sing delight (terpein) in the blessings which education bestows; Thaleia, because men whose praises have been sung in poems flourish (thallein) through long periods of time; Melpomene, from the chanting (melodia) by which she charms the souls of her listeners; Terpsichore, because she delights (terpein) her disciples with the good things which come from education; Erato, because she makes those who are instructed by her men who are desired and worthy to be loved; Polymnia, because by her great (polle) praises (humnesis) she bring distinction to writers whose works have won for them immortal fame; Urania, because men who have been instructed of her she raises aloft to heaven (ouranos), for it is a fact that imagination and the power of thought lift men's souls to heavenly heights; Calliope, because of her beautiful (kale) voice (ops), that is, by reason of the exceeding beauty of her language she wins the approbation of her auditors."  (Diordorus Siculus, trans. Oldfather)

In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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The Muse Melpomene

"To each of the Mousai men assign her special aptitude for one of the branches of the liberal arts . . . for the name of each Mousa, they say, men have found a reason appropriate to her . . . Melpomene, from the chanting by which she charms... the souls of her listeners." 

Diodorus Siculus, trans. Oldfather

Originally, Melpomene was the Muse of Singing. Her name means "one who is melodious" and is derived from the Greek root word melpomai, "to celebrate with dance and song". Later, during the Classical era, she became the Muse of Tragedy. In this photo she is holding the mask of tragedy in one hand, a club in the other, and wears a wreath of the vines and grapes of Dionysus. 
 

 

(statue by Monte Calvo, 2nd century AD. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Denmark)

In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

Mnemosyne

Mnemosyne: Mother of the Muses and Goddess of Memory

(painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti)