Wikipedia

Muses in popular culture

Representations or analogues of one or more of the nineMusesofGreek mythologyhave appeared in many different modern fictional works.

Sarcophagus known as the "Sarcophagus of the Muses",[1]representing the nine Muses and their attributes. Marble, first half of the 2nd century AD; found by the Via Ostiense. From left to right: Calliope, who holds a scroll; Thalia, holding a comic mask; Terpsichore, Muse of dance; Euterpe, holds a double flute; Polymnia, leans on a rock; Clio, has a writing-tablet; Erato, holds a cithara; Urania, muse of astronomy, is shown with a globe at her feet; and Melpomene, wears a tragic mask.

The list of Muses comprises:

  1. Calliope,the Muse of epic poetry
  2. Clio,the Muse of history
  3. Erato,the Muse of love poetry
  4. Euterpe,the Muse of music
  5. Melpomene,the Muse of tragedy
  6. Polyhymnia,the Muse of hymns
  7. Terpsichore,the Muse of dance
  8. Thalia,the Muse of comedy
  9. Urania/Ourania,the Muse of astronomy

The Nine Muses

edit
The Muses,1578, byTintoretto

Literature

edit
edit
  • In 2010, a South Korean all-female idol group debuted under the name 'Nine Muses'.

Film and television

edit
  • In the anime seriesLove Live! School Idol Project,the musical group, μ's, is named after the Muses, and there are nine members, just as there are nine Muses.
  • In the anime seriesKiddy Grade,several sister ships to those of the main characters are named for Muses including Calliope, Clio, Terpsichore, Erato, Euterpe, Thalia, and Polyhymnia.
  • In the 2017 filmMuse,a writer is inspired by several Muses.
  • In "Muse to My Ear", a 2001 season 4 episode of the television supernatural dramaCharmed,the Charmed Ones must protect the Muses from a warlock who is trapping them into a magical ring.
  • The 1980 filmXanadu(and the 2007 musicalXanadubased on it) are a fantasy musical revolving aroundTerpsichoreinspiring an artist and a businessman to create a roller-skating rink/disco. The film starredOlivia Newton-Johnand, in his last film appearance,Gene Kelly.
  • In theSeason 9episode "Threshold" ofThe Waltons(series set in time period 1933 to 1946), John Boy considers using the Muses as a presentation to promote a new department oftelevisionat his college.

Calliope

edit

Literature

edit
  • The Muse Calliope is a character in the graphic novelSandman,byNeil Gaiman.Her story, "Calliope"is in the 1990trade paperbackDream Country.According to the comic's canon, Calliope was the youngest (rather than the eldest) Muse as well as a one-time lover ofDream,by whom she boreOrpheus.
  • She is referenced in the 1923 poem "Aci sosi pe vremuri" ( "Here arrived long ago" ) by Romanian poetIon Pillat.
  • A character from the internet fiction seriesHomestuckis named Calliope, with which they are designated the title; "Museof Space ". She is depicted as a shy girl who has a fervent hunger for knowledge on the epic she is contained within, in reference to the muse Calliope being the muse of epic poetry.[2]

Film and television

edit
  • Calliope features in the 1997Walt Disney PicturesfilmHercules,appearing alongside the Muses Clio, Melpomene, Terpsichore, and Thalia, who collectively serve as aGreek chorus.The tallest of the five, Calliope sometimes acts asde factoleader and spokeswoman for the others. She was voiced byTony AwardwinnerLillias White,who reprised the role in the subsequentTV series.
  • In the 2002 episode "Out of Sync" from the animated seriesCyberchase,Calliope plays herlyreand she is one of the four Mount Olympus band members withApollothe Greek god of music (who plays thegong), Himaropa thesiren(who plays theFrench horn), andthe Beast(who plays thedrums).
  • In the 2014season 10episode ofSupernatural,"Fan Fiction", Calliope appears as the antagonist.[3]
  • In the 2022 Netflix seriesThe Sandman,Calliope is played by Greek-Canadian actressMelissanthi Mahut.[4]
  • In the DC comics-based television seriesTitansthere is an AI called Calliope.[5]
  • In the TV showDietland(2018) The feminist collective of peaceful resistance is called “Calliope House”. When Plum has a date and talks about it she says “what does calliope even mean, anyway?” He says “a clown, I think.”

Video Games

edit
edit
  • VTuberMori Calliopeshares her given name with the Muse Calliope. Mori Calliope is a member of theHololive Production's English Branch and is a Rapper, as poetry is the foundation of rap this may explain the origin of her name.

Clio

edit
  • InBatman: The Animated Series,Clio is the name of criminal mastermindMaxie Zeus's girlfriend and assistant. Maxie suffers from agod complex,believing that he is the Greek godZeusand that his girlfriend is the same name Muse of History.
  • TheCleo of Alpha Chiliterary society atTrinity Collegeis named after Clio.
  • Clio features in the 1997Walt Disney PicturesfilmHercules,appearing alongside the muses Calliope, Melpomene, Terpsichore and Thalia, who collectively serve as aGreek chorus.She was voiced by Vanéese Y. Thomas, who reprised the role in the subsequentTV series.
  • Clio (also known as "Kira" ) is the lead character in the 2007 musicalXanadu,which is based on the 1980 film of thesame name.She was played byKerry Butlerin the originalBroadwayproduction.
  • The muse Clio is a character inPiers Anthony'sXanthseries. She features as the protagonist in the 2004 bookCurrant Events.
  • The muse Clio is a main supporting character inJodi Taylor'sThe Chronicles of St. Mary'sseries – using the name "Mrs. Partridge" as a cover while working as the personal assistant to Dr. Bairstowe. Her true identity as Clio is known only by the series protagonist Dr. Maxwell.
  • In the 2017 filmWonder Woman,Wonder Womanrefers to Clio as the name of the author of the 12 volumes ofTreatises on Bodily Pleasure.

Erato

edit

Euterpe

edit
  • In the anime seriesGuilty Crown,main character Inori Yuzuriha is best known for her song "Euterpe".
  • Euterpe is one of the 50 Spacer worlds inIsaac Asimov's Robot Series.It features a small moon calledGemstone.[6]
  • In a cantata byStrozzi Barbara,the composer puts her songs around the muse.
  • In the Brazilian musical teen TV seriesVicky and the Muse,Euterpe is one of the main characters, being summoned to inspire a girl who wants to sing.

Melpomene

edit
  • Melpomene features in the 1997Walt Disney PicturesfilmHercules,appearing alongside the muses Calliope, Clio, Terpsichore and Thalia, who collectively serve as aGreek chorus.She was voiced by Broadway actress Cheryl Freeman, who reprised the role in the subsequentTV series.
  • Melpomene is a character in the 2007 musicalXanadu,which is based on the 1980 film of thesame name.She was played byMary Testain the originalBroadwayproduction.
  • Melpomene is a main character in the French novellaAnathemaeby Emilio Bouzamondo. She is the origin of the tragedy of the main characters. She appears with a billy goat at her side.
  • Melpomene is a song byThe Dear Hunterfrom the 2016 albumAct V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional.

Melpomene is also suspected to be the inspiration for the tragic clown "Pomny" in the Internet series Digital Circus, an esoteric tome veiled as a children's program.

Polyhymnia

edit

Terpsichore

edit
Terpsichore holding anAeolian harp.Sculpted in marble byJohn Walshin 1771.

Literature

edit
  • InDaniel Quinn's 1997 novelMy Ishmael,the fictional planet Terpsichore is a land ravished by dancing, with dancing paralleling the rise of agriculture on Earth. Dancing (in an unspecified manner) speeds up the growth of the natives' "favorite foods".

Film and television

edit

Theater

edit
  • Terpsichore is a character in the 2007 musicalXanadu,which is based on the 1980 film of thesame name.Her part is always played by a man indrag.She was played byAndre Wardin the originalBroadwayproduction.

Thalia

edit
  • The comic mask of Thalia featured in each title card of everyThree Stoogesshort produced from the 1945Idiots Deluxeuntil their final one in 1959,Sappy Bull Fighters.
  • Thalia features in the 1997Walt Disney PicturesfilmHercules,appearing alongside the muses Calliope, Clio, Melpomene and Terpsichore, who collectively serve as aGreek chorus.Portrayed as short and plump, she has the deepest voice amongst the five Muses depicted, and true to nature, makes the funniest comments. She was voiced byRoz Ryan,who reprised the role in the subsequentTV series.
  • In a 2003Static Shockepisode "Hard as Nails",Harley Quinnuses the alias "Thalia".
  • Thalia is a character in the 2007 musicalXanadu,which is based on the 1980 film of thesame name.Her part is always played by a man indrag.She was played by Curtis Holbrook in the originalBroadwayproduction.
  • The German bookstore chainThaliais named after the muse.
  • The Muse of Comedy was in the last episode of season two ofThe Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show,only it was a grotesque man named Phillip.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Sarcophagus of the Muses".Retrieved11 December2018– via Musee du Louvre.
  2. ^Hussie, Andrew."Homestuck".Homestuck.com.HICU.Retrieved14 May2024.
  3. ^Ratcliffe, Amy."Supernatural:" Fan Fiction "Review".IGN.
  4. ^Wellisz, Olenka."'The Sandman': How Dream's Relationship With Calliope Changed From the Comics ".Collider.
  5. ^Wilson, Jonathon."Titans Season 4 Episode 12 Recap and Ending Explained".
  6. ^Asimov, Isaac(1985).Robots and Empire.New York: Del Rey. p. 105.ISBN0345328949.
  7. ^"Xanadu (1980)"– via www.imdb.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muses_in_popular_culture&oldid=1255624914"