In today's world do not talk about the art of science as we think about the choreography, poetry, theater, or vocals.The fact that the ancient Greeks, unlike us, perceive Space as the most perfect work of art and muse Urania was perceived by them as inspiration of his knowledge.For the first time her name in Western literature is found in Hesiod.Before we learn more about the most Urania, get acquainted with her divine family.
Who are the Muses?
According to the ideas of the Greeks, the muses - the nine daughters of the supreme god Zeus and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory.Each sphere of activity, is considered important, according to the ancient Greeks, was to have its patron - the muse, and through it to develop and prosper.In addition, all Muse, including Muse Urania, accompanied and inspired Musaget-Apollo, the god of arts and harmony personified all the wise, bright and beautiful, including morals, science and all kinds of art.
Areas patronage
very first mention of the muses found in the works of Homer, other sources also provide information about the nine daughters of Zeus and supervised their fields of science and art:
- Calliope ("beautiful voice") - Musesacrifice and patriotism, the epic poetry.It was her supreme Greeks believed muse and depicted with a laurel wreath or crown on his head.
- Clio ("giver of fame") - the muse of history, which, according to the ancient Greeks, recorded in their scrolls any, even the smallest event to the memory of them erased.
- Melpomene ("song, singing") - the muse of tragedy, dressed in theatrical robes, holding in his hand a dramatic mask.
- Talia ("kindness") - the muse of comedy, with a simple wreath of ivy on his head and a comedy mask in hand.
- Polyhymnia ("a lot of songs") - the muse of sacred hymns and patron of the speakers.
- Terpsichore ("merry dance") - the muse of dance, including weddings.Dressed in a simple tunic on his head - a wreath of ivy, hands holding a lyre.
- Euterpe ("joy") - the muse of lyric poetry and whose head is decorated with a wreath of flowers.Its tool - double flute.
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Erato ("cute") - the muse of love and wedding poetry.She was depicted in a wreath of roses and always with some perky and cheerful musical instrument in the hands of, for example, the lyre or tambourine.
- Urania - the muse of astronomy and science.The youngest of all the daughters of Zeus and wise on par with Pallas Athene.In the hands of a compass always Urania and the celestial sphere, wearing a star-studded cloak, on the head - a crown of constellations.
most serious muse
As already mentioned, the muse Urania (photo of her sculptures you see) - the youngest among nine sisters, but it is also the most knowledgeable and intelligent of them.She is beautiful, like the rest of the Muses, because the Greeks practiced the principle kalokagathia, lies in the fact that outwardly perfect and as beautiful inside.Therefore, the patron of the arts and sciences simply could not be unsightly appearance.
Despite the fact that the Urania together with the sisters accompanied by inspiring, Musaget having fun dancing and having fun at a party in honor of Dionysus, it represents the power of knowledge and contemplation.Muse Urania calls all move away from the chaos of everyday existence in order to immerse themselves in the study and contemplation of the grand life of the cosmos and motions of stars, reflecting the earthly destiny.As already mentioned, all muses own specific attributes, from Urania is a celestial sphere, and a compass.
What it do?
Our current understanding of exact science such as astronomy does not admit any points of intersection with the poetry or other art.However, during the formation of Greek mythology and the emergence of the cult musical astronomy was more of an art than an exact science.Urania - the muse of astronomy begins with mathematics and astrology developed in ancient Greece.
Over time, the Greeks managed to reach considerable heights in the study of the sky, the stars and the cosmos.It was in ancient Greece, in the III century BC.e.Aristarchus of Samos first formulated the hypothesis of the heliocentric theory, and computation of Eratosthenes Kirensky produced at about the same time, formed the basis of the calendar that we use today.Hipparchus of Nicaea in the II century BC.e.He managed to create the first catalog of "fixed stars" in their brightness and performed table movement moon and the sun.But the sister Urania, Clio, is singular rather ironic today is widely known erroneous geocentric theory put forward in the II century BC.e.Claudius Ptolemy, was the basis of the Church Christian doctrine of the structure of the universe, rather than the earlier discovery of Greek scientists.
As mentioned, astronomy - the science muse Urania, one of the oldest disciplines.She studied the Babylonian diviners and magicians, storytellers and Greek philosophers, monks and members of the aristocracy of the Renaissance, astrology, mysticism and great thinkers closer to our times.The content and concepts of astronomy has always been the basis of a world of time and were in the midst of the confrontation of ideas.
Aphrodite Urania
Indeed, in Greek mythology used the epithet "Urania" n
rimenitelno to the daughter of the god of the sky - Aphrodite, represents the physical force of nature.Aphrodite Urania - Heavenly Greeks revered not only as a patron of pure love and family, but also as a goddess of fertility and plant forces in charge of the fields, orchards, groves and vineyards.
image Urania art
since the heyday of ancient Greece passed for centuries, but the muse Urania always inspired not only astronomers and scientists associated with it.Image of Urania can be found in the paintings of Simon Vouet "Muses Urania and Calliope," Louis Tocqué "Muse of Astronomy," Angelica Kauffman and Louis de Boulogne, Johann Heinrich and Eustache Le Sur, Jan Hevelius and engravings Hendrick Goltzius.Of course, the muse in these paintings displayed in the garments in the fashion of the time when the artist worked, but the celestial sphere and compass in hand, or stylus and a map of the sky is present necessarily.
writers and poets also did not escape her attention: Urania - the muse of astronomy, inspired Lomonosov and Tiutchev on "odic reasoning."Our famous contemporary of Joseph Brodsky published in 1987 a book of poems "To Urania."In St. Petersburg it is planned to install a monument to the poet in the form of three steles engraved with verses "To Urania."
Moscow Planetarium Urania even created a museum where exhibited created by Jan Hevelius Star Globe, which are painted in the XVII century the famous constellation.In addition, the museum presents a number of interesting subjects related to the study of space and stars.
