The Lower Garden District's Nine Muses

Calliope, Clio, Erato, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Euterpe, Polymnia and Urania

A few days ago, as Marlin and I made our way back from shopping on Magazine Street and a wonderful lunch at Sugar Magnolia, I over heard a gentleman explaining to his out of town guests, "The streets in the Lower Garden District are named for the Greek Muses."

"What are Muses?" the guest asked.

The gentleman thought a moment and explained, "Gremlins. Goblins. Kind of like gargoyles."

When i came home, I created this page, so hopefully this will clear up some of the confusion.

These streets in New Orleans are in order from downtown (downriver) to uptown (upriver).

Clio - the muse of history

Clio the "Proclaimer" is the muse of history and is often seen sitting with a scroll and accompanied by a chest of books. She has been credited with introducing the Phoenician alphabet into Greece. Clio had teased Aphrodite's love of Adonis, and in consequence of her wrath, Clio fell in love with Pierius, the son of Magnes and the king of Macedonia. By Pierus, she bore Hyacinth.

Painting information:
detail from "The Allegory of Painting"
the Muse Clio
by Vermeer

Thalia - the muse of comedy

Thalia (Thaleia) the "Flourishing" is the muse of comedy and of playful and idyllic poetry, and is seen with a comic mask. She is sometimes seen with a crown of ivy and a crook. By Apollo, Thalia had the Corybantes, priests who castrated themselves in identification with the goddess, Cybele.

Painting information:
Jean-Marc Nattier
French, 1685 - 1766
Thalia, Muse of Comedy (Silvia Balletti?),
1739, oil on canvas
Mildred Anna Williams Collection

Melpomene - the muse of tragedy

Melpomene the "Songstress" is the muse of tragedy in spite of her joyous singing and is represented by the tragic mask. She is sometimes seen with garland, a club and a sword. She is often seen wearing costurnes, boots traditionally worn by tragic actors, and a crown of cypress.

Painting informatio:
Hesoid and the Muse, 1891
Oil on canvas, Musee d'Orsay, Paris
Gustave Moreau (1826-1898)

Terpsichore - the muse of choral songs and the dance

Terpsichore the "Whirler" is the muse of dancing and is often seen dancing with her lyre and a plectrum, an instrument used for plucking stringed instruments. By the river god Achelous, she bore the Sirens.

Painting information:
Jean-Marc Nattier
French , 1685 - 1766
Terpsichore, Muse of Music and Dance
circa 1739, oil on canvas
Mildred Anna Williams Collection

Euterpe - the muse of lyric poetry (flute)

Euterpe the "Giver of Pleasure" is the muse of music and is represented with a flute. It has been said she is the inventor of the double flute. By the river Strymon, she bore Rhesus who was slain at Troy.

Painting information:
Euterpe
painted by Camiile Roqueplan

Polyhymnia - the muse of sacred poetry

Polyhymnia (Polymnia), "She of Many Hymns," is the muse of Sacred Poetry and is seen with a pensive look upon her face. She brings distinction to writers whose works have won them immortal fame. She has also been called the Muse of geometry, mime, meditation and agriculture. Polyhymnia is often veiled.

Mosaic information: Polyhymnia, section of Roman mosaic, 240 A.D
Luxemburgum Romanum:
The Roman mosaic of Vichten,
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Urania - the muse of astronomy

Urania the "Heavenly" is the muse of astronomy and is represented by a staff pointed at a celestial globe. She foretells the future by the position of the stars.

Painting information:
Simon Vouet
French, 1590 - 1649
detail of Urania from
The Muses Urania and Calliope,
c. 1634, oil on panel,
Samuel H. Kress Collection