The Muses

Reading notes

• The Loves §1.1 Muses' band

  The nine goddesses of poetry; poets are the 'Pierides' company,' owing allegiance to them rather than to Love.

• The Loves §1.3 the nine companions

  The nine Muses, who with Apollo and Bacchus 'stand on the side' of the poor but devoted poet.

• The Art of Love §1.1 Clio

  One of the nine Muses; here standing for them all, who gave Hesiod his poetic calling on Helicon.

• The Art of Love §2.1 Erato

  The Muse of love poetry, invoked because her name echoes Greek erōs, 'love.'

• The Heroides §15 the Pegasian Muses

  The Muses (of Pegasus's spring Hippocrene), who dictate Sappho's songs and have spread her fame.

• The Heroides §15 Thalia

  One of the Muses, here named as mistress of Sappho's poetic art.

• The Heroides §15 the nine goddesses

  The nine Muses, Sappho's 'divinities,' by whom she swears.

• Letters from the Black Sea §1.5 the Pierian choirs

  The Muses of Pieria, patrons of poetry whose favor brings fame; Ovid leaves their pursuit of glory to others and writes only to pass his exile.

• The Festivals §4.4 nurslings of Helicon

  The Muses, Cybele's "learned granddaughters," whom Ovid questions about her rites.

• The Festivals §5.proem Polyhymnia

  One of the nine Muses; here she argues that May is named from Maiestas (Majesty).

• The Festivals §6.30 Muses

  The nine goddesses of poetry and the arts, patrons of Hercules Musarum, who close the poem.

• Metamorphoses §5.105 the learned sisters

  The nine Muses, daughters of Jupiter and Mnemosyne (Memory), who dwell on Mt Helicon.

• The Cure for Love §1 Muse

  One of the nine goddesses of poetic inspiration; Ovid insists no 'new Muse' is undoing his earlier love-poetry.

• Sorrows §3.2 Pierians

  The Muses (Pierides), Ovid's patron goddesses, who 'brought no aid to their learned priest.'