Mousai
From Hellenistai Wiki
The Mousai (or Muses, in English) are the Goddesses of the arts, literature, and poetry. Originally counted as three by Hesiod of Boeotia, most sources count them as nine.
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[edit] Names of the Mousai
[edit] Olympian Nine
Most modern sources list the Mousai as Nine, and with the following names:
- Kalliopê -- Beautiful-Voice
- Kleiô -- Make-Famous,
- Eratô -- Lovely, Beloved
- Melpomenê -- Celebrate with Song
- Ouraniê -- Heavenly One
- Polyhymnia -- Many Hymns
- Euterpê -- Giving Much Delight
- Terpsikhorê -- Delighting in Dance
- Thaleia -- Rich Festivity, Blooming
[edit] Boeotian Mousai
The Boeotian Mousai are also commonly referred to as Mousai Titanides and Edler Mousai. They are variously numbered as three or five, some modern sources (such as Theoi Project) concluding that there are only three with two different sets of names (Melete is named twice). The Mousa Mneme is often identified with Mnemosyne,making Her the mother of the Olympian Nine. Their names are:
[edit] Mousai Apolloniades
The Mousai Apolloniades are the daughters of Apollon given a shrine at the temple of Apollon in Delphi.
- Kêphisô -- Of the River Cephisus
- Apollônis -- Daughter of Apollon
- Borysthenis -- Strength
- Nêtê -- Lowest notes of the lyre
- Mêsê -- Middle Notes of the Lyre
- Hypatê -- Highest Notes of the Lyre
[edit] Cult of the Mousai
The cult of the Mousai was first established in Boeotia, with a prominent temple in the ancient city of Thespiae, near Mount Helikon and The Valley of the Mousai. While common for Apollon to be worshipped alongside the Olympian and Boeotian Mousai as "the leader of the Mousai", they were also often worshipped in their own right.
[edit] External Links
- Olympian Mousai at Theoi Project
- Boeotian Mousai at Theoi Project
- Mousai Apollonaides at Theoi Project
- Mousai Cult at Theoi Project
- Mousae at Greek Myth Index
- Eternal Inspirations virtual temple
