DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9260#0194
PHOSEON. Lib. V.
had alfo been another of Ofiris's Generals. Monfieur
Le Clerc (j) thinks that the Fable of the Mufes comes
from the Conforts which Jupiter eftablifhed in Crete.
If we believe him, they were compofed of Nine Vir-
gins, of whom his Royal Academy of Mufick was formed j
he adds that Jupiter was only called the Father of the
Mules, becaufe he was the Firft amongft the Greeks
who, in imitation of Jubal, had a regulated Confort;
and that thofe finging Virgins had Mnemofyne or Me-
mory given them for their Mother, upon no other ac-
count , but becaufe it is fhe that furnifhes Matter for
Verfes and Poems.
There are not fewer Opinions concerning the Name,
than the Origine of the Mufes. Diodorus lays that it
comes from Mifin , which fignifies to mew or teach
elevated lofty Subjects. Monfieur Le Clerc derives the
Name from Motra, to invent; Mr. Huet brings it from
the Name of Mofes. The other Etymologies given
of it by Plato and Suidas, in bringing this Word from
that of Inquifitio, approach near enough to thofe I
have already mentioned. But as the Mufes were cele-
brated and honoured very much in Macedonia, which
was anciently called Tieria , long before their Worfhip
was known on Mount "ParnaJ/us and Helicon, it is
very likely that it was in that Province that they had
their Origine. This Sentiment is very conformable to
what I have juft read in the Abridgment of Sir Ifaac
Newton's Chronology , where it is faid that Sejac,
who, after his Death, was firnamed Ofiris, and alfo
confounded with Bacchus, married one of the Singers,
who had followed him in his Expeditions, to Olagrius
King of Thrace, and that Orpheus was born of that
Marriage. That Author adds , that the Muficians of
that Conquerour became famous in Thrace under the
Name of Mufes, and that the Daughters of Pierus, a
Thracianby Origine,having learned their Mufick,and
imitating their Conforts took the Name of Mufes.
As the ancient Authors and the Monuments often
confound the Names of the Nine Mufes, and the Sym-
bols which reprefent them, it is neceflary to fhew here
the molt ufual manner of naming and painting them.
Clio , the firft of the Mufes , who takes her Name
from Glory, or Fame, holds a Guitarre in one Hand,
and a Plectre in the other, which fupplies the Place
if) Notes upon Hejiod.
PHOSES. Book V. 159
of a Mufick-Bow. Euterpe, fo called becaufe flic re-
joices , has a Mask at her left Side , and a Club in
her right Hand. She invented Tragedy , which is
fignified by the Mask fhe carries. Her double Face
which is found on a Medal, is not met With anywhere
elfe. She holds Hercules's Club, perhaps becaufe Tra-
gedy reprefents the Heros , amongft whom Hercules
is the moft illuftrious. Others affure us that the Club
denotes Thalia, for the reafon which I fhall fhew a
little lower: They alfo believe that it is Thalia , that
has the double Head. Spon, who has publifhed a fine
Marble reprefenting the Mufes, has fometimes con-
founded them together. Thalia, or the flounfhing,
who invented Comedy, holds alfo a Mask in her right
Hand : The Medals reprefent her leaning againft a
Pillar. Melpomene, or the alluring , is diftinguifhed
by the Barbiton. Terpfichore , that is to fay the di-
verting, is known by the Flutes fhe holds, as well in
the Medals as in the other Monuments. Erato, or the
amiable, is not eafy to be diftinguifhed. Polyhymnia,
or Polymnia,fo called from the Multiplicity of Songs,
and not from the Strength and Fidelity of Memory,
as fome Authors have pretended , is found in fome
Medals. She is drawn with a Harp, as the Inventrefs
of Harmony ; but Horace gives her the Barbiton.
Urania, the heavenly, is the Inventrefs of Aftronomy
and holds a Globe in her Hand. In the Medals of her ,
this Globe is placed on a Tripod. Calliope, fo named
from the Sweetnefs of her Voice, holds a Volume in
her Hand as the Inventrefs Of the Heroick Poem.
I fhall not repeat the different Names given to the
Mufes, fince there is a very exact Lift of them in Lylio
Giraldi; but conclude with a Reflection , which de-
fences a place here. Vollius has had a great deal of
Difficulty to comprehend by what means the Ancients
believed that the Mufes were warlike Goddefles. But
fince they were dedicated to Apollo and Bacchus,
who, according to Diodorus, fpent all their Days in
making War, why fhould not thofe Women who ac-
companied them in their Conquefts, be regarded as
female Warriors? Befides, the Mufes have often been
confounded with the Bacchants, and it is certain, ac-
cording to Plutarch (6) that the Greeks, facrificed to
the Mufes, before they gave Battle.
(6) Jfopbth. Lacon.
Fab. VI.
had alfo been another of Ofiris's Generals. Monfieur
Le Clerc (j) thinks that the Fable of the Mufes comes
from the Conforts which Jupiter eftablifhed in Crete.
If we believe him, they were compofed of Nine Vir-
gins, of whom his Royal Academy of Mufick was formed j
he adds that Jupiter was only called the Father of the
Mules, becaufe he was the Firft amongft the Greeks
who, in imitation of Jubal, had a regulated Confort;
and that thofe finging Virgins had Mnemofyne or Me-
mory given them for their Mother, upon no other ac-
count , but becaufe it is fhe that furnifhes Matter for
Verfes and Poems.
There are not fewer Opinions concerning the Name,
than the Origine of the Mufes. Diodorus lays that it
comes from Mifin , which fignifies to mew or teach
elevated lofty Subjects. Monfieur Le Clerc derives the
Name from Motra, to invent; Mr. Huet brings it from
the Name of Mofes. The other Etymologies given
of it by Plato and Suidas, in bringing this Word from
that of Inquifitio, approach near enough to thofe I
have already mentioned. But as the Mufes were cele-
brated and honoured very much in Macedonia, which
was anciently called Tieria , long before their Worfhip
was known on Mount "ParnaJ/us and Helicon, it is
very likely that it was in that Province that they had
their Origine. This Sentiment is very conformable to
what I have juft read in the Abridgment of Sir Ifaac
Newton's Chronology , where it is faid that Sejac,
who, after his Death, was firnamed Ofiris, and alfo
confounded with Bacchus, married one of the Singers,
who had followed him in his Expeditions, to Olagrius
King of Thrace, and that Orpheus was born of that
Marriage. That Author adds , that the Muficians of
that Conquerour became famous in Thrace under the
Name of Mufes, and that the Daughters of Pierus, a
Thracianby Origine,having learned their Mufick,and
imitating their Conforts took the Name of Mufes.
As the ancient Authors and the Monuments often
confound the Names of the Nine Mufes, and the Sym-
bols which reprefent them, it is neceflary to fhew here
the molt ufual manner of naming and painting them.
Clio , the firft of the Mufes , who takes her Name
from Glory, or Fame, holds a Guitarre in one Hand,
and a Plectre in the other, which fupplies the Place
if) Notes upon Hejiod.
PHOSES. Book V. 159
of a Mufick-Bow. Euterpe, fo called becaufe flic re-
joices , has a Mask at her left Side , and a Club in
her right Hand. She invented Tragedy , which is
fignified by the Mask fhe carries. Her double Face
which is found on a Medal, is not met With anywhere
elfe. She holds Hercules's Club, perhaps becaufe Tra-
gedy reprefents the Heros , amongft whom Hercules
is the moft illuftrious. Others affure us that the Club
denotes Thalia, for the reafon which I fhall fhew a
little lower: They alfo believe that it is Thalia , that
has the double Head. Spon, who has publifhed a fine
Marble reprefenting the Mufes, has fometimes con-
founded them together. Thalia, or the flounfhing,
who invented Comedy, holds alfo a Mask in her right
Hand : The Medals reprefent her leaning againft a
Pillar. Melpomene, or the alluring , is diftinguifhed
by the Barbiton. Terpfichore , that is to fay the di-
verting, is known by the Flutes fhe holds, as well in
the Medals as in the other Monuments. Erato, or the
amiable, is not eafy to be diftinguifhed. Polyhymnia,
or Polymnia,fo called from the Multiplicity of Songs,
and not from the Strength and Fidelity of Memory,
as fome Authors have pretended , is found in fome
Medals. She is drawn with a Harp, as the Inventrefs
of Harmony ; but Horace gives her the Barbiton.
Urania, the heavenly, is the Inventrefs of Aftronomy
and holds a Globe in her Hand. In the Medals of her ,
this Globe is placed on a Tripod. Calliope, fo named
from the Sweetnefs of her Voice, holds a Volume in
her Hand as the Inventrefs Of the Heroick Poem.
I fhall not repeat the different Names given to the
Mufes, fince there is a very exact Lift of them in Lylio
Giraldi; but conclude with a Reflection , which de-
fences a place here. Vollius has had a great deal of
Difficulty to comprehend by what means the Ancients
believed that the Mufes were warlike Goddefles. But
fince they were dedicated to Apollo and Bacchus,
who, according to Diodorus, fpent all their Days in
making War, why fhould not thofe Women who ac-
companied them in their Conquefts, be regarded as
female Warriors? Befides, the Mufes have often been
confounded with the Bacchants, and it is certain, ac-
cording to Plutarch (6) that the Greeks, facrificed to
the Mufes, before they gave Battle.
(6) Jfopbth. Lacon.
Fab. VI.