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1. 
   gbeatty Teacher
   College - Freshman

   eNotes Editor

   The muses were a group of goddesses (usually nine of them), each of whom were in charge of a specific art or related discipline. (Clio, for example, was the muse of history, which we don't usually consider an art today.) The muses were supposed to guide and inspire activity in their respective areas. In the opening lines of this poem, Homer is mostly likely calling on Calliope, the muse of epic poetry.

   Greg

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   Posted by gbeatty on Tuesday February 6, 2007 at 8:36 AM
   
   

2. 
   brendawm Teacher
   High School - 9th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   The Muses in the Odyssey are the Daughters of Wit and Charm, the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (sister of Hyperion and Rheia). Their specific and individul names are:

   • Kleio, history
   • Euterpe, flute playing
   • Thaleia, comedy
   • Melpomene, tragedy
   • Terpsichore, dance
   • Erato, love poems
   • Polymnia, sacred music
   • Ourania, astrology
   • Kalliope, epic poetry (she holds the highest rank of the Muses)

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/odyssey/characters

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   Posted by brendawm on Saturday September 29, 2007 at 11:32 AM
   
   

3. 
   revolution Teacher
   Doctorate

   They are goddesses (spirits), who are supposed to be the power of knowledge, the inspiration behind the creation of literature and arts, mostly found in poems. They are found near the start of an ancient epic poem or classical Greek hymn. Some of the names of the muses are shown below:

   1. Calliope ( epic poetry, could have been the Muse in the Odyssey)
   2. Clio (history)
   3. Urania (Astrology)
   4. Erato (Lyric poetry)
   5. Thalia (poetry) and etc.

    

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   Posted by revolution on Saturday October 31, 2009 at 5:47 AM