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The Muses Blessing: The Muses preside over the arts and sciences, giving inspiration to all artists, particularly poets, painters, dancers, musicians, philosophers, and astronomers. Names and symbols: Aoide (song) one of the original Muses, no symbols associated with her Caliope (fair-voiced), considered the noblest of the Muses, presides over epic song, and was pictured with a wax tablet and pen. Clio (she that extols) is the Muse of history, and has a scroll. Erato (the lovely one), is the Muse of erotic poetry, with a smaller lyre. Euterpe (she that gladdens) is the Muse of lyric song, and has a double flute. Hypate one of the original Muses, no symbols associated with her Melete (meditation) one of the original Muses, no symbols associated with her Melpomene (she that sings) is the Muse of tragedy, and has a tragic mask, ivy wreath, and attributes of hero she is inspiring a song about e.g. the club for Herakles or sword for Perseus. Meses one of the original Muses, no symbols associated with her Mneme (remembrance) one of the original Muses, no symbols associated with her Nete one of the original Muses, no symbols associated with her Polymnia (rich in hymns), is the Muse of serious sacred songs, usually represented as veiled and pensive. Terpsichore (she that rejoices in the dance), is the Muse of dancing, with a lyre. Thalia (she that flourishes) is the Muse of comedy and bucolic poetry, with the comic mask, the ivy wreath, and the shepherd's staff. Urania (the heavenly), the Muse of astronomy, with the celestial globe. Animal(s): none Sacrifices: frankincense Primary Cult Center(s): Helicon, Pieria, Castalia, Aganippe, Sparta Festivals: Museia every five years in Thespiae Ways to honor: Create! Learn a new artform. Go to museums, theaters, dance recitals, and other places of culture. Support artists. Give money to street musicians or painters. Turn a child onto art. For more information: Apollodorus' Library 1.3.1-4, 3.5.8 Hesiod's Theogony 36-115 Homer's Iliad 2.594-600 Homer's Odyssey 8.63-64, 8.479-481, 24.60-61 Homeric Hymn to Apollo and the Muses 25 Ovid's Metamorphoses 5.273-340, 5.662-678 Pausanias' Description of Greece 9.24.3, 9.29.1-6 Articles: The Muses in Mythology by Sannion