Muse from Agnano

myminifactory

This is a remarkable group of statues unearthed in the Roman baths at Agnano, near Naples, known as the Muses from Agnano. The figures were clearly removed from their original site long ago. It's widely believed that they initially stood on the Greek island of Delos, close to the magnificent temple of Apollo. The intricate details of their fine robes are especially captivating and vary from one muse to another. The arrangement of the robes and their materials accentuate the figures' lovely, youthful bodies. Despite the group's condition, which is somewhat fragmented in places, one still senses today that it's not deliberately posed for the viewer, but rather presents itself as an accidental onlooker. The Muses are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne ("memory"), a divine force representing humanity's intellectual powers. Her nine children protect and promote human creativity, scholarship, and scientific pursuits. Polyhymnia, or "she who sings many songs," fosters singing accompanied by the lyre; Euterpe, or "she who gives delight," is the muse of lyric poetry and flute-playing, while Erato, or "she who inspires love," is the muse of love poetry. Three Muses oversee theatrical creativity: Terpsichore, or "she who delights in dance," is the muse of dance and choral song; Melpomene, or "the chanting one," is the muse of tragedy; Thalia, or "the festive one," is responsible for comedy. Three of Mnemosyne's daughters are assigned to scholarship and the sciences: Clio, or "she who praises," as the muse of epic poetry and history; Calliope, or "she of the beautiful voice," as the muse of literature and science; and finally Urania, the "heavenly one," as the divine inspiration of astronomy.