Definition: At one time, the goddesses of prophetic springs, the Muses became the representatives of poetry, the arts and science. Today we generally refer to the nine muses, although their number has varied. The nine are Calliope, Muse of epic song, Clio, Muse of history, Euterpe, Muse of lyric song, Thalia, Muse of comedy and bucolic poetry, Melpomene, Muse of tragedy, Terpsichore, Muse of dance, Erato, Muse of erotic poetry, Polyhymnia, Muse of sacred song, and Urania, Muse of astronomy.


