Muses, in Greek religion and mythology, patron goddesses of the
arts, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Originally only three,
they were later considered as nine. Calliope was the Muse of
epic poetry and eloquence; Euterpe, of music or of lyric poetry;
Erato, of the poetry of love; Polyhymnia (or Polymnia), of
oratory or sacred poetry; Clio, of history; Melpomene, of
tragedy; Thalia, of comedy; Terpsichore, of choral song and
dance; Urania, of astronomy. Some say that Apollo was their
leader. Early places of their worship were the district of
Pieria, in Thessaly, where they were often called Pierides, and
Mt. Helicon, in Boeotia. The springs of Castalia, Aganippe, and
Hippocrene were sacred to them. The Columbia Electronic
Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University
Press. All rights reserved. More on Muses from Fact Monster: See
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