If you love the Muses and want to explore modern Greek myth a little more, have a look at my sister’s book, Mount Helicon.
Disclaimer
So, every so often (usually when Facebook won’t let me share posts to my author page), I poll the Misfits about the kind of posts they’d like to see me write about. One of the most popular ideas was mythology related to gods and spirits ruling over the domain of creativity. So, who better to start with than the actual Muses?
*sigh* Full disclosure, I’m not an ancient historian or a classicist. Yes, I have a degree in archaeology; yes, I’m a big nerd whose favourite hobby is research; and yes, I am a pagan who kinda-sorta works with one of the Muses. None of that makes me an expert in Greek mythology or history. There is so much, you guys. The problem with ancient stories and religion is that their history is long, complicated, and shifts wildly over time and region.
Just thinking about someday having to talk about Thoth (or, really, any Egyptian) makes my chest feel tight and my eyes moist. I mean, I’ll do it, but the dread is real.
So, with that in mind, let’s lower the expectations, and move forward.
The Muses, like a lot of figures in Greek mythology, likely predate Greek culture, and might come from the Thracian Empire, which recognised 3 Muse-like figures. It seems like we decided ultimately on 9, mostly because famous poets like Homer said there were 9.
So, with all of that out of the way, let’s carry on. When last we spoke of the Muses, I touched a bit on the history of how The Muses came to be, what they collectively represent, how to approach them. I also touched a little on Calliope, Queen of the Muses, and my personal muse. This year, I’m going to introduce Thalia and Melpomene.
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Thalia
Thalia’s name means, ‘flourishing,’ and she is the Goddess of Comedy, but like in the theatrical sense. Think more sitcom than standup. Obviously standup requires a lot of writing skill, it is definitely a performance of comedy, but in the context of classical Greece, we’re talking about comedic plays. She is also the Goddess of Idyllic Poetry, which are short poems that romanticise the rustic, rural, country life. Good vibes, Thalia.
She is depicted as young, wearing boots, and holding a laughing mask or a horn. She is joyful and high energy. Her children by Apollo are the Corybantes, who were members of a dancing mystery cult worshipping Cybele, an Anatolian mother goddess.
How to invoke
Before you write something funny, try watching a few episodes of your favourite sitcom, or taking some time in a rural area. Perhaps even partake in some backyard gardening, or indulge in a few heinous vegetable-related puns. You’ll be the apple of her eye!
Melpomene
Melpomeme, by contrast, is the Goddess of the famous Greek Tragedy, and in a way, of songs of mourning. As such, her name means, ‘the one who sings.’ She finds the beauty and catharsis in sadness, in loss, in failure, in shame. She and Thalia are two halves of the same coin, or mask, as it were, since they are the laughing and crying masks associated with Greek theatre.
Melpomene is often depicted with the crying mask, as well as a dagger or cup, symbolising her love of violence and toasting the glorious dead. Her children, possibly by Achelous, are the sirens, which in the Greek tradition are bird-women, not fish-women, who nevertheless still crash ships on the rocks. Yes, I know I just credited the Corybantes to Thalia, and the Sirens (and actually, the Corybantes, too) to Calliope, but hey, Greek mythology is old and changed a lot, so there are a lot of conflicting versions.
How to invoke
Invoking Melpomene is a tricky one. Obviously, it’s frowned upon to go out and commit violent acts in search of inspiration, so maybe watch a sad war movie or true crime documentary. Alternatively, maybe visit a war memorial or have a picnic in a cemetery. It’s not as weird as you might think- the Victorian loved doing it, and actually I’ve done it a few times. There’s a quiet camaraderie amongst the graves. I think they appreciate the company.
Avon Van Hassel 