Kithara
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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One of the nine Ancient Greek deities of the arts.
Emblems of the Muses
Muse | Domain | Emblem |
---|---|---|
Calliope | Epic poetry | Writing tablet |
Clio | History | Scrolls |
Erato | Lyric poetry | Cithara (an ancient Greek musical instrument in the lyre family) |
Euterpe | Music | Aulos (an ancient Greek musical instrument) |
Melpomene | Tragedy | Tragic mask |
Polyhymnia | Choral poetry | Veil |
Terpsichore | Dance | Lyre |
Thalia | Comedy | Comic mask |
Urania | Astronomy | Globe and compass |
In Renaissance and Neoclassical art, the dissemination of emblem books such as Cesare Ripa's Iconologia (1593 and many further editions) helped standardize the depiction of Muses in sculptures or paintings, who could be distinguished by certain props, together with which they became emblems readily identifiable by the viewer, enabling one immediately to recognize the art with which they had become bound. Calliope (epic poetry) carries a writing tablet; Clio (history) carries a scroll and books; Erato (lyrical poetry) is often seen with a lyre and a crown of roses; Euterpe (music) carries a flute, the aulos; Melpomene (tragedy) is often seen with a tragic mask; Polyhymnia (sacred poetry) often is seen with a pensive expression; Terpsichore (dance) is often seen dancing and carrying a lyre; Thalia (comedy) often is seen with a comic mask; and Urania (astronomy) carries a pair of compasses and the celestial globe.