| In Greek mythology, the Muses (Greek, Mousai: perhaps from the Proto-Indo-European root *men- "think") are a sisterhood of goddesses or spirits, their number set at nine by Classical times, who embody the arts and inspire the creation process with their graces through remembered and improvised song and stage, writing, traditional music, and dance. They were water nymphs, associated with the springs of Helicon and with Pieris, from which they are sometimes called the Pierides. The Olympian system set Apollo as their leader, Apollon Mousaget es. Not only are the Muses explicitly used in modern English to refer to an inspiration, as when one cites his/her own artistic muse, but they are also implicit in the words "amuse" or "musing upon". According to Hesiod's Theogony (seventh century BC), they are the daughters of Zeus, king of the gods, and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory. For Alcman and Mimnermus, they were even more primordial, springing from Uranus and Gaia. Pausanias records a tradition of two generations of Muses; the first being daughters of Uranus and Gaia, the second of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Another, rarer genealogy is that they are daughters of Harmonia (the daughter of Aphrodite and Ares) which contradicts the myth in which they were dancing at the wedding of Harmonia and Cadmus. |
| Compare the Roman inspiring nymphs of springs, the Camenae, and also the apsarasa in the culture of classical India. |
| Muse: | Calliope, the firstborn of the Muses |
| Meaning: | Fair-voiced |
| Arena: | Poetry, epics |
| Symbols and Affinities: | Writing implements, wind |
| Tarot: | The Hermit |
| Anathemas: | Discordant sounds |
| Muse: | Cleio, some myths call her the mother of Sirens |
| Meaning: | The proclaimer |
| Arena: | History |
| Symbols and Affinities: | Scrolls, pens, memory, bards |
| Tarot: | Justice |
| Anathemas: | Lies, blemishes, injustice |
| Muse: | Euterpe |
| Meaning: | Giver of pleasure |
| Arena: | Music |
| Symbols and Affinities: | The flute |
| Tarot: | The Magician, the Fool |
| Anathemas: | Refusal to enjoy the gifts of life |
| Muse: | Melpomene |
| Meaning: | Singer |
| Arena: | Music |
| Symbols and Affinities: | The sad mask of the twin harlequins representing tragedy and comedy in theater |
| Tarot: | The Chariot, The Moon, Temperance |
| Anathemas: | Frivolity--she prefers those in deep contemplation |
| Muse: | Polyhymnia |
| Meaning: | She of many hymns |
| Arena: | Tragedy |
| Symbols and Affinities: | Halos, all sacred books, reborn deities, sacred music |
| Tarot: | The High Priestess |
| Anathemas: | Those who use her gifts without honoring their sacred source |
| Muse: | Terpsichore |
| Meaning: | The whirler |
| Arena: | Dance, lyric |
| Symbols and Affinities: | The lyre |
| Tarot: | The Tower, Death or Change |
| Anathemas: | Those who do not help themselves but want others to do for them |
| Muse: | Thaleia |
| Meaning: | The flourisher |
| Arena: | Comedy |
| Symbols and Affinities: | The laughing mask of the twin harlequins representing comedy in the theater |
| Tarot: | The Chariot, The Sun, The World |
| Anathemas: | Sadness--she cannot abide those who refuse to enjoy |
| Muse: | Urania |
| Meaning: | Heavenly one |
| Arena: | Astronomy |
| Symbols and Affinities: | The globe and maps of heavens |
| Tarot: | The Wheel of Fortune |
| Anathemas: | Those who do not seek the answers that lie before them |
| Muse: | Erato |
| Meaning: | Romantic love |
| Arena: | Love songs |
| Symbols and Affinities: | Bow and arrow |
| Tarot: | The Lovers |
| Anathemas: | Magick used to destroy love |
| In a few stories there are a few more Muses mentioned, however their importance is lost according to most translations. |
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