Goddess Power: A Kids' Book of Greek and Roman Mythology: 10 Empowering Tales of Legendary Women by Yung In Chae

Author:Yung In Chae [Chae , Yung In]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rockridge Press
Published: 2020-01-21T05:00:00+00:00

THE MUSES

MYOO-zuhz

GODDESSES OF INSPIRATION

FAMILY Mnemosyne (mother)

Zeus (father)

Each other (sisters)

Various half-siblings

SYMBOLS Writing tablet, stylus, scroll, books, instruments, masks, veil, globe, compass

STRENGTH The arts

Once in a while, artists sit down to draw a picture, compose a song, write a poem—but nothing happens. The inspiration just won’t flow, like a clogged fountain. In these situations, they have to call upon the Muses.

The Muses were the nine daughters of Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory, who was the Titaness daughter of Gaia and Uranus. Once, during a period of melancholy, Mnemosyne spent nine nights with Zeus. Nine months later, she gave birth to nine children:

•Calliope, the leader, was the Muse of epic poetry. She held a writing tablet and stylus pen.

•Clio was the Muse of history. She kept a scroll and a pile of books with her at all times.

•Erato was the Muse of lyric poetry, in particular love poetry. She held a stringed musical instrument called a cithara, which is a type of lyre.

•Euterpe was the Muse of music. She often played the aulos, a Greek flute.

•Melpomene was the Muse of tragedy. She carried a tragic mask, the kind that people wore on stage for performances of tragedies.

•Polyhymnia was the Muse of hymns. She wore a veil and was extremely serious, always pondering one issue or another.

•Terpsichore was the Muse of dance. She loved to dance while playing the lyre, a laurel wreath nestled in her hair.

•Thalia, the Muse of comedy, had a comedic mask. She was joyous and excelled at making people laugh.

•Urania was the Muse of astronomy. She used a globe and compass to look at the stars and interpret their positions.

No one was better than the Muses at their various arts. But that didn’t stop some people from trying to outdo them anyway.

One day, Athena decided to pay a visit to the Muses, her half-sisters, in their valley on Mount Helicon: a stunning dimple of trees and caves and flowers. There was also a spring, Hippocrene, that the winged horse Pegasus had created by sinking his hoof into the ground. The beauty of Mount Helicon was inspiring enough, but the waters of Hippocrene actually had the power to give inspiration to poets who drank from it.

Here, in this pretty pocket, Athena found all of the Muses sitting together. She stopped to admire their home and especially Hippocrene, which she had never seen. Urania rose when she saw Athena approach and pulled her into a hug.

“I love the new spring,” Athena said when Urania let her go. “I heard Pegasus made it—is that true? You’re very fortunate to live in such a place.”

“Yes, our home is wonderful. But nowhere is safe these days,” Polyhymnia said solemnly. “We’re still recovering from the time we were passing through the lands of King Pyreneus and he tried to trap us in his house.”

“And don’t forget the Pierides,” Clio jumped in.

Athena was curious. “The Pierides?”

So Urania told Athena the story of the king and princesses who were foolish enough to take on the Muses.

Pierus was the king of Emathia in Macedon.

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