The Greek Muses

I was asked to if I could post a bit of Greek history, specifically about the Nine Muses – as the term ‘muse’ is still used today to represent a person, place or thing that inspires us. Not only are the Muses explicitly used in modern English to refer to an artistic inspiration, as when one cites one’s own artistic muse, but they also are implicit in words and phrases such as “amuse”, “museum” (Latinised from mouseion—a place where the muses were worshipped), “music”, and “musing upon”. In Greek mythology, poetry and literature, the Muses were thought to be the Goddesses from whom all inspiration came in literature, art and science. They are also seen throughout Renaissance and Neoclassical art.

But from where did they originate?

Familiars, Muses, and Angels, oh my!

A guardian angel is an angel assigned to protect and guide a particular person or group. Belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity. The theology of angels and tutelary spirits has undergone many refinements since the 400s. Belief in both the East and the West is that guardian angels serve to protect whichever person God assigns them to, and present prayer to God on that person’s behalf. According to Leo Trepp, in late Judaism the belief developed that “The people have a heavenly representative, a guardian angel.”