In European culture, it is believed that when the poet's inspiration comes down, it means that he sent down his muse.Monument to the great poet and composer, is often depicted with winged muse.But few know that in ancient Greece the Muses inspired not only poets and composers, and even scientists.Generally, the ancient Greeks believed that all wisdom - divine, and sent down to people again, the gods.Who are they - the muses of ancient Greece?
Origin muses - a favorite theme of Greek and Roman theogony.She was devoted to many works and even poems (such as "Metamorphoses" of Ovid).However, the origin of the music as presented by different authors are slightly different from each other.Hesiod (VII century BC.), In his "Theogony" argues that the ancient Greek muse - is the daughter of the king of the Olympian gods Zeus and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory.Zeus took the form of a shepherd seduced Mnemosyne, who stayed with him 9 nights, and the result gave birth to nine daughters, the Muses.
But there are other stories about how were born muses of ancient Greece.According Alkmanu Mimnernusu and they are the daughters of Gaia and Uranus.Therefore, they are referred to more ancient gods uranidam- than Kronides (the Olympian gods).Other sources attribute the origin of their goddess Harmony (which, in turn, is the daughter of Aphrodite goddess of beauty).The word "muse" means chant or poem.All descriptions of the origin of music somehow related to the Battle of the Titans Zeus (uranidami) and the establishment of his power - the power of the Olympian gods.Mnemosyne was to preserve the memory of those it exploits and pass it on to descendants.In the ancient Greek city-state even existed Leybadeya sacred spring of Mnemosyne, and anyone who drank from it, gain knowledge of the origins and first principles.
Images goddess of memory Mnemosyne are usually surrounded by her nine daughters.Who are the muses of ancient Greece and ammunition (Protecting) what they are?Each of the nine beautiful sisters have their own attributes, which are easy to learn.Clio is the patroness of history, portrayed with style (stick to the letter), and scroll in a laurel wreath (as entered in the annals of the history of the names of the characters).Erato lyre symbolizes the lyric poetry, and her sister Euterpe, always depicted with a flute and garlands of flowers, lyrical songs.Calliope, the muse of epic poetry and knowledge, has the same attributes as the Clio.Head grim Melpomene, muse of tragedy, crowned by a wreath of ivy, and in her hands she holds a tragic mask, while as portrayed by Talia laughing mask, because it protects the comedy.Muse Terpsichore dance portrayed with a lyre and plectrum, fluttering in the dance.The last two are very serious Greek Muses: Urania with a map of the sky and the compass (the muse of astronomy), and Polyhymnia, the patroness of the rhetoric that holds the royal scepter because oratory is dominant in comparison with others.But a more detailed patronage and symbolism of music finally formed in the Renaissance.
In the later period of ancient Greece (II c. BC) established the myth of the three muses: Aida (song), grinds (practice) and Mnemonic (memory).Still later came to believe that there are four muses: Telpsikora, Meletus, Ehud and Arches.Cicero mentions the 7 muses: Neil Triton Geptapora, Aconitum, Aheloy, rhodium and Tipoplo.It was believed that the muses of ancient Greece lived on the sacred Mount Helicon, and he chairs the sun god Apollo and the arts, which is why the final and earned the nickname "Musaget" (the driver of the Muses).Now they are taken to represent winged creatures charming, dressed only slightly, arrives to inspire the poets sing of love.But in the ancient world, they were deities, instructing people daruyuschimi their knowledge and wisdom, glorifying the law connecting the past and the present.
