The Muses

The nine goddesses and daughters of the god Zeus and of Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. They preside over the arts and sciences and are believed to inspire all artists, especially poets, philosophers, and musicians. Calliope is the muse of epic poetry, Clio of history, Euterpe of lyric poetry, Melpomene of tragedy, Terpsichore of choral songs and the dance, Erato of love poetry, Polyhymnia of sacred poetry, Urania of astronomy, and Thalia of comedy. They are said to be the companions of the Graces and of Apollo, the god of music. They sit near the throne of Zeus, king of the gods, and sing of his greatness and of the origin of the world and its inhabitants and the glorious deeds of the great heroes. The Muses are worshiped throughout ancient Greece, especially at Helicon in Boeotia and at Pieria in Macedonia.