Edited by Richard Walker, Saturday 20 September 2025 at 22:35
In Greek mythology the Muses* were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, whose name is connect with mnēmē "memory", which gives us mnemonic. This probably, although not all authorities agree, comes from a PIE root *men-, which is to do with thinking and mental (!) capacity in general, and is connected with many words, some quite surprising, for example Ahura Mazda, comment, mandarin, mantra, monster and mosaic — and of course Muse.
*The Muses
Wikipedia gives the following list of Muses and the art or science associated with each, although as you would different authors, classical and later, did not always agree with this list and even with how many the Muses were.
Calliope (epic poetry) Clio (history) Polyhymnia (hymn and mime) Euterpe (flute) Terpsichore (chorus and dance) Erato (lyric choral poetry) Melpomene (tragedy) Thalia (light verse and comedy) Urania (astronomy and astrology)
The Nine Mewses
In Greek mythology the Muses* were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, whose name is connect with mnēmē "memory", which gives us mnemonic. This probably, although not all authorities agree, comes from a PIE root *men-, which is to do with thinking and mental (!) capacity in general, and is connected with many words, some quite surprising, for example Ahura Mazda, comment, mandarin, mantra, monster and mosaic — and of course Muse.
*The Muses
Wikipedia gives the following list of Muses and the art or science associated with each, although as you would different authors, classical and later, did not always agree with this list and even with how many the Muses were.
Calliope (epic poetry)
Clio (history)
Polyhymnia (hymn and mime)
Euterpe (flute)
Terpsichore (chorus and dance)
Erato (lyric choral poetry)
Melpomene (tragedy)
Thalia (light verse and comedy)
Urania (astronomy and astrology)
Acknowledgement
Copilot generated the image 20 Sep 2025