The Nine Muses of Mythology Trivia Quiz

Answer: Zeus and Mnemosyne

It was Mnemosyne that gave birth to the nine children with Zeus as the father, now called the Nine Muses. They are Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry; Clio, the Muse of History; Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy; Thalia, the Muse of Comedy; Euterpe, the Muse of Music and Lyric Poetry; Erato, the Muse of Love Poetry and Marriage Feasts; Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance; Urania, the Muse of Astronomy; and Polyhymnia, the Muse of the Hymns Sacred to the Gods.

Hera gave birth to four children with Zeus as the father: Hephaestus, the God of Fire and the Chief Blacksmith of the Gods; Ares, the God of War; Hebe, the Goddess of Youth; and Eileithyia, the Goddess of Childbirth. Maia gave birth to one child with Zeus as the father: Hermes, the Messenger of the Gods. Finally, Leto gave birth to two children with Zeus as the father; the twins Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, the Moon, and Chastity, and Apollo, God of the Sun, Music, and Poetry.

Answer: Epic Poetry and a tightly rolled parchment

Calliope is the Muse that represents Epic Poetry, and is often depicted holding a tightly rolled parchment. Clio is the Muse of History that is depicted holding a half-open parchment. Then, it is Urania, who is the Muse of Astronomy that is depicted holding a globe and a rod. And finally, it is Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy that is depicted holding a dramatic mask.

Answer: Polyhymnia

It is Polyhymnia that is the Muse that represents the Sacred Hymns of the Gods. Lachesis, Clotho, and Atropos aren't even Muses, but are the Three Fates: Lachesis is the Spinner, or the one who sews the thread of life; Clotho is the Dispenser of Lots, or the one who assigns destinies; and finally, Atropos is the Unchangable, or the one who cuts the thread of life at one's death. Perhaps her name, PolyHYMNia, is where the word, 'hymn,' comes from?

Answer: Euterpe

The Muse who represents Music, and is represented by two flutes, would be none other than the Muse, Euterpe. As with Lachesis, Clotho, and Atropos, Leukosia, Ligeia, and Parthenope are not of the Nine Muses. On some of the accounts of Odysseus's travels, it is said that there were three sirens that endeavored to entrap him; the names of those three sirens were later given as Leukosia, the one who was said to play the lyre; Ligeia, the one who was said to play the pipes; and finally, Parthenope, the one who was said to sing.

Answer: Melpomene

Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy, is often shown as a veiled woman, carrying a tragic mask with her. Urania is often showed carrying a globe and a rod, and is the Muse of Astronomy. Erato's looks haven't been at all confirmed, yet what we do know is that she is the Muse of Love Poetry and Marriage Feasts. Terpsichore's looks, as well, haven't been confirmed, but we know that she is the Muse of Dance.

Answer: Erato

Among the Nine Muses, it is Erato that represented Love Poetry and Marriage Feasts. Aglaiophemic and Thelxiepeia were the two sirens that were said to have tried to enchant Odysseus and his crew; in other accounts, however, it is said that there were three sirens, with the names Leukosia, Ligeia and Parthenope.

Thetis is one of the best-known Nymphs, and is a daughter of the Sea Deity, Nereus, by Doris, an Oceanid. Thetis is also the wife of Peleus, and the mother of Achilles.

Answer: Comedy

I called Thalia Melpomene's 'counter-muse' because of two specific things: what she represents (Comedy, whereas Melpomene represents Tragedy), and the mask she wields (Thalia wields a comedy mask, whereas, on the other hand, Melpomene holds a tragic mask). Terpsichore is the Muse of Dance, Urania of Astronomy, and Euterpe of Music and Lyric Poetry.

Answer: Clio

Out of the four choices, it is only Clio who is the Muse of History, and the only one that is a daughter of Zeus by Mnemosyne. The other three, Danaë, Semele, and Leda, are all the mortal mothers of Zeus's children. Danaë gave birth to Perseus, the Greek hero who defeated the Gorgon, Medusa, by reflecting her image back to her with the use of his shield; Semele gave birth to Dionysus, the God of the Wine, as well as the Grape Vine; and finally, Leda gave birth to Castor and Pollux (who were said to be the children of Tyndareus of Sparta - then referred to as the "Tyndaridae," or the "Sons of Tyndareus"; however, they were also referred to as the "Dioscouri," or the "Striplings of Zeus"), Helen (who was married to Menelaus of Sparta, but eloped with Paris of Troy; she was also said to have the face that 'launched a thousand ships'), and Clymenestra, the wife of Agamemnon.

Answer: Terpsichore

Of the choices, Terpsichore is the only daughter of Zeus by Mnemosyne; she is also the only muse, the Muse of Dance. Elare, Dione, and Eurynome are three of Zeus's many lovers. Elare gave birth to Tityus, and 'a giant' is the only description of Tityus that we have. Dione gave birth to Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty. Eurynome, an Oceanid, gave birth to The Graces: Aglaia ("Splendor"), Euphrosyne ("Mirth"), and Thalia ("Good Cheer").

Answer: Astronomy

And thus you've reached the final question of this ten-question quiz! Urania is the Muse of Astronomy, and is usually shown holding a globe and a rod. The Muse of Tragedy is Melpomene, who is usually shown veiled, as well carrying a tragic mask. The Muse of the Sacred Hymns of the Gods is Polyhymnia. The Muse of Music and Lyric Poetry is Euterpe.

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