The Muses

The ‘Garden of the Muses’ at the Achilleion Palace of Corfu, Greece, 1890.

Alex Holbrook

Modern art does not seem to connect as well with the masses as classicism because it is based on emotion, whereas art of the past was based on memory. When shared memories are represented, more people are connected to it. Emotion is an individualistic or limited experience, that if not connected with, leaves the observer disconnected from the piece. Memory of stories, places, things, and people are dominion of the Greek mythological Muses. Daughters of Zues and the Titaness Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory, the Muses are the goddesses of the arts and sciences. Hesiod is the first to list nine Muses, but like all classical myths, their story developed over the following centuries with new versions emerging to this day. Looking at an example from the nineteenth century, it will be shown how long-lasting figures from Greek mythology remain revered and can relate to their context to this day.  

Set on a mountaintop on the beautiful island of Corfu, northwest of the Greek mainland, lies a Victorian era neo-classical palace named “The Achilleion”. The summer home of the Austria-Hungarian Empress Elisabeth, the palace was built in 1890 by Italian architect Raffaele Caritto. ‘Sad queen Sisi’ as she was later known, was infatuated with Classical Greece. Her favorite hero was Achillies, with several statues of him on the palace grounds (5). The main terrace on the northeast corner of the palace overlooks the Ionian Sea and across to the Greek mainland. This terrace is called ‘The Garden of the Muses’ as each Ionic column of the long arcade has a life-size marble statue aligned with it of each of the nine Olympian Muses in situ. They are “goddesses of the arts and proclaimers of heroes” (8). This is apt for the Achilleion, a place dedicated to one of the most well-known heroes in western civilization.

The Muses’ location on a mountain top is befitting their mythological place association at Mt. Helicon in Boeotia where Hesiod met and was inspired by them, or in Pieria near the base of Mt. Olympus where they were born (4). However, there is no spring on the mountain in Corfu, a common component of the Muses’ home. The statues face east, towards the rising sun and their frequent associate, Apollo, as shown in a Homeric hymn, “For through the Muses and far-shooting Apollo, human beings on earth are poets and musicians” (1, pg132). Often leader of the Muses, Apollo, the god of speech-art makes thematic sense in that the Muses needed to communicate their craft through the spoken word, which can have greater power in society and pre-dates storytelling. Hesiod and other authors wrote the Muses “first and last” into their poems (1, pg60). Similarly, the Corfu Muses start and end your experience in the mythic garden as you enter and leave it.

Given that there are nine columns at the Achilleion for each of the Muses, the architect of the palace must have intended for a representation of them beforehand, if not the column amount as representations. Elisabeth herself believed the statues were ancient, but the exact sculptor(s) are unknown. However, they are thought to be of the time and style of nineteenth century neoclassical sculptors Canova and Thorvaldsen (6). Each one is holding an identifiable item of their dominion. From south to north, the statues are Polyhymnia Hymns, Terpsichore Dance, Euterpe Music and Song, Urania Astronomy, Thalia Comedy, Erato Love Poetry, Clio History, Melpomene Tragedy, and Calliope Epic Poetry. Calliope is aptly located nearest the garden of Achilles, as it is through the epic poetry of Homer that he has truly become immortal.

Depictions of the Muses in antiquity were largely two-dimensional in paintings or mosaics with few statues remaining. This makes the statues at Corfu unique in that they are perhaps the largest depictions of the Muses in existence today. Like in literature, the Muses are often depicted as a singular group, and less so as individuals unless they are being called upon to assist with a specific task by an author. Since the Renaissance, people from Dante and Shakespeare to creators of today evoke the term ‘Muse’ as creative inspiration, one that is as likely to fade as stone could.

Justin Ho

Classical appreciation of Greek culture has existed ever since the dawn of Greek civilization, although the importance of such art pieces expressing the myths and ideas did not fully blossom until the past few hundred years. In understanding such art pieces, there comes a realization that behind sculptures and paintings represent the ideas, morals, ethics, and beliefs of those who lived within such myths and traditions. An idea of such Greek and Roman myths is the theme of messages and passing it down generations. Messages can include the history and stories of myths, including the procreation of the gods and goddesses. Others include a fight for supremacy, shaping the lands around Mount Olympus and the surrounding Greek areas. The message itself relies on other mythical figures, the Muses. The Muses were daughters of Zeus and considered goddesses of knowledge, including literature, science, and the arts. While not prominent in many myths, they were included in Hesiod’s poems, which described in detail their responsibilities of knowledge. The Muses were featured prominently in a variety of arts and statues, and we look at one detailed example of the Achilleion Palace of Corfu and how we have viewed the Muses today in contemporary culture.

In the 19th century, the then Empress of Austria, Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie, chose the island Corfu in Greece to be the building location for a new palace. The former Empress was extremely enamored with Greek literature, particularly Achilles, who she placed statues of both in and around the palace. The palace itself was even named “Achilleion” in reference to the Greek hero of the Trojan war. It is said that she loved Achilles so much that she wanted her palace to “protect from prying glances - a palace worthy of Achilles”. However, there were other statues that were included, and with the palace included a terrace that had contained statues of the nine muses that also overlooked the stunning views of the Ionian sea that bordered the island.

It is not a coincidence that the palace was built on a mountain in Corfu, The terrace itself reflected the journey that the nine Muses took along with Apollo to learn about the Arts on Mount Elikonas. From there, they learned their arts, although they eventually took on a new role. Their mother’s name, Mnemosyne, meant memory, and in turn, the Muses were also used to bring a sense of truth to those who wrote the Greek literature poems. In Homer’s Iliad, he called on them to “sing of the leaders of the Danaans”, along with telling him the tales of other characters such as Agamemnon. Looking at the palace of Achilleion, each statue was dedicated to one of the muses, with a total of nine statues and pillars. The nine muses were named as such: Clio of History, Calliope of Poetry, Euterpe of Flutes and Music, Thalia of Comedy, Melpomene of Tragedy, Terpsichore of Dance, Erato of Love and Lyrical Poetry, Polyhymnia of Sacred Poetry, and Urania of Astronomy.

The Muses have long been inspirational pieces of art through paintings, and stories. It is therefore important that the Achilleion represents a version of the Muses that demonstrates a humanistic view of the daughters of Zeus. The theme of messages and knowledge resonate with the palace and its depiction as a whole group represents the significance of such characters to the Empress of Austria and our understanding of the Muses.

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