Notes on the Muses
Let us begin our song with the Muses of Helicon, who dwell on the high and holy mountain of Helicon, and dance with graceful feet around the violet-colored spring and the altar of the mighty son of Cronus (Zeus).
The ancient Greek goddess of poetry, Muse (Μοῦσα), was originally a nymph of a spring, it seems, worshipped at each spring and called by its respective name. The Muses are often spoken of in the plural (Μοῦσαι).
However, Homer addresses them in the singular at the beginning of the Odyssey: "ἄνδρα μοι ἔννεπε, μοῦσα" (Tell me, O Muse, of the man...).
Tell me, O Muse, of that man of many devices, who wandered far and wide after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy, and saw the towns of many men and learned their minds.
Aganippe (Αγανιππη) is the nymph of the Aganippe spring on Mount Helicon in Boeotia (central Greece). This spring was considered sacred, and it was believed that drinking its water bestowed inspiration.
Also on Mount Helicon is Hippocrene (Ιπποκρήνη), or the "Horse's Spring," which is another sacred spring that grants inspiration. It is said to have been created by the hoofprint of Pegasus.
The hero Bellerophon is said to have captured and tamed Pegasus while the horse was drinking at the Peirene spring in Corinth. He rode Pegasus to defeat the monster Chimera.
This Peirene spring is also said to be the mark of Pegasus's hoof and was likewise considered a spring that gave inspiration to poets.
Hesiod states that the name Pegasus (Πήγασος) is derived from the word for "spring" (πηγή).
Hesiod names the nine Muses as the daughters of Zeus and the goddess of memory, Mnemosyne (Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Urania, and Calliope).
However, other than placing Calliope first, he does not specifically describe their individual personalities.
In an age without writing, the connection between poetry and memory is natural, yet Hesiod also suggests that poetry, a gift of the Muses, allows one to "forget" their troubles.
If a singer, a servant of the Muses, sings of the glories of men of old and of the blessed gods who dwell on Olympus, he quickly forgets his sorrows and remembers his troubles no more.
According to Pausanias's Description of Greece in the 2nd century, there were once three Muses worshipped: Aoede (song), Melete (meditation), and Mneme (memory). He attributes the establishment of the nine Muses to Pierus of Macedonia, noting that while these new Muses are daughters of Zeus, the older Muses were daughters of Uranus.
Also, in Delphi, three Muses were worshipped as daughters of Apollo: Cephisso, Apollonis, and Borysthenis.
These three were also called Nete, Mese, and Hypate. These are musical terms for the lowest, middle, and highest strings. However, the high and low terminology of ancient Greek music is the reverse of modern usage, with the "highest" string being the "lowest" note.
Thus, they report to Terpsichore those who have honored her in chorus and dance, making them more beloved by her; to Erato, they tell of those who lived in love while honoring her; and they bring similar reports to the other Muses according to the type of honor paid to each. To Calliope, the eldest, and Urania, who follows her, they report on those who have lived their lives in the pursuit of philosophy, the love of wisdom, and who have honored the music of these two goddesses. Indeed, these two are the Muses who, above all others, preside over the heavens and the stories of gods and men, and their singing voices are the most beautiful.
At least by the time of Plato, the idea that each of the nine Muses had their own area of responsibility seems to have been well-established.
(Incidentally, the quote above is from Socrates, speaking about cicadas. Cicadas are said to be reincarnations of poets and reporters to the Muses.)
The areas of responsibility are generally as follows. The category of "poetry" in ancient times was broad.
Calliope: Epic poetry
Clio: History
Polyhymnia: Hymns
Euterpe: Lyric poetry
Melpomene: Tragedy
Terpsichore: Dance
Erato: Love poetry
Thalia: Comedy
Urania: Astronomy
© 2019 DICK OSSEMAN
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antakya_Museum_Hotel_Muses_mosaic_sept_2019_5637.jpg
Only eight Muses are visible in this mosaic found at a construction site in Antakya, Turkey, in 2009.
The eldest daughter, Calliope, is on the right side, handing something to Hesiod.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antakya_Museum_Hotel_Kaliope_mosaic_sept_2019_5685.jpg
The left side appears to be the personification of Boeotia and Mount Helicon.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antakya_Museum_Hotel_Helicon_mosaic_sept_2019_5668.jpg
However, the main subject of this mosaic is actually Pegasus. As mentioned above, the Muses and Pegasus have a deep connection.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Museum_Hotel_Antakya,_Turkey_(52033863374).jpg