what is a muse?

Answer 1

In Greek mythology, the Muses (Greek Μοῦσαι, Mousai: from the Proto-Indo-European root *men- "think", from which mind and mental are also derived[1]) are nine goddesses or spiritual guides who embody the arts and inspire the creation process with their graces through remembered and improvised song and stage, writing, traditional music and dance. They were water nymphs, associated with the springs of Helicon and Pieris; from the latter they are sometimes called the Pierides. The Olympian system set Apollo as their leader, Apollon Mousagetes. Not only are they used in modern English to refer to an inspiration, as when one cites his/her own artistic muse, but also in the words "amuse" or "musing upon", which are rooted in their name.

According to Hesiod's Theogony (seventh century BC), they are the daughters of Zeus, king of the gods, and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory. For Alcman and Mimnermus, they were even more primordial, springing from Uranus and Gaia. Pausanias records a tradition of two generations of Muses; the first being daughters of Uranus and Gaia, the second of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Another, rarer genealogy is that they are daughters of Harmonia (the daughter of Aphrodite and Ares) which contradicts the myth in which they were dancing at the wedding of Harmonia and Cadmus.

Compare the Roman inspiring nymphs of springs, the Camenae, and also the apsara in the culture of classical India.

Answer 2

A muse is someone who inspires you. In modern times, I have heard clothing designers say that a particular actress is their muse. Painters often have muses as do poets, writers, lyricists and other creative people. The term comes from the Greek mythology in which there were 9 muses - one specific to each of nine creative processes i.e.Calliope who was the Chief Muse and the muse of epic poetry.

Answer 3

A muse is that thing that makes you artistic. The thing that gives you reason to jump or shout or write out a sonnet. A muse is usually a woman. We get the word "music" there.

Answer 4

Muses, in Greek mythology, nine goddesses, daughters of the god Zeus, king of the gods, and of Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. The Muses were believed to inspire all artists, especially poets, philosophers, and musicians. By late Roman times (3rd century to 5th century), each Muse was believed to preside over a particular art: Calliope was the muse of epic poetry; Clio of history; Euterpe of lyric poetry sung to the accompaniment of the flute; Melpomene of tragedy; Terpsichore of choral songs and the dance; Erato of love poetry sung to the accompaniment of the lyre; Polyhymnia of sacred poetry; Urania of astronomy; and Thalia of comedy.

The Muses were said to be the companions of the Graces and of Apollo, the god of music. They sat near the throne of Zeus and sang of his greatness and of the origin of the world and its inhabitants and the glorious deeds of the great heroes. The Muses were worshiped throughout ancient Greece, especially at Helicon in Boeotia and at Pieria in Macedonia.

Answer 5

A muse is something or someone that inspires you.

Answer 6

Anything that inspires you. In Greek, Mythology, I think they were goddesses that inspired people or something like that.

Answer 7

It's something or someone that inspires you to do something creative and to do it well.

Answer 8

someone who inspires people... where ideas come from