Μοῦσα Ancient Greek · revision 15439

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Homer, Iliad}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /mûː.sa/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ˈmu.sa/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈmu.sa/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Μοῦσᾰ''' (Moûsa) ''f'' (genitive Μούσης); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is disputed.^(Beekes 2010)^(Wiktionary) The original meaning of the word is unknown, but the Muses are clearly connected with poetry and song.^(Beekes 2010) It can be analysed as [[m|grc|*μόντα|tr=*mónta]] or [[m|grc|*μόνθα|tr=*móntha]].^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ * Beekes finds the comparison of [[m|grc|*μόνθα|tr=*móntha]] with [[m|grc|μενθήρη|tr=menthḗrē]] and [[m|grc|μανθάνω|tr=manthánō|t=to learn]] the most plausible Indo-European explanation, from [[ine-pro|*men-|t=to think]], since the Muses are linked with memory and remembrance.^(Beekes 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ * An explanation as “mountain woman, nymph”, from a root of Latin [[m|la|mōns]], is impossible according to Beekes, because that root is not found in Greek.^(Beekes 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ * Pokorny connects it with [[m|grc|μῶμαι|tr=mômai|t=to seek after]].^(Wiktionary)

+ * It may also be Pre-Greek, [[der|qfa-sub-grc|-]], from a form *monty-a, though nothing decides for or against it.^(Beekes 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Homer invokes the Muse at the opening of the ''Odyssey'' and the Muses appear as “Olympian, daughters of Zeus” in the ''Iliad'' (1.604; 2.491).^(GLAUx)^(LSJ 1940) The ''Odyssey'' first gives their number as nine, and Hesiod's ''Theogony'' names them.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From Pindar and Aeschylus on the common noun μοῦσα also meant music or song itself: Pindar brings a song to Aeacus, Aeschylus speaks of a hateful strain, and Euripides asks “what song is this?”^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010) Aeolic has [[m|grc|Μοῖσα|tr=Moîsa]] and Doric [[m|grc|Μῶσα|tr=Môsa]].^(Beekes 2010)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ Its derivatives gave [[μουσικός|tr=mousikós]] and [[μουσική|tr=mousikḗ]], “music, poetry, education”, and [[μουσεῖον|tr=mouseîon]], the seat of the Muses and a school, whence Latin [[m|la|mūsēum]].^(Beekes 2010) Latin borrowed the name as [[m|la|Mūsa]], the source of English ''Muse''.^(Wiktionary) Modern Greek ''μούσα'' is a Muse and, figuratively, a person who inspires an artist.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – The ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'' invoke the Muses; the ''Odyssey'' counts nine.^(LSJ 1940)

+ * Before the 6th century BC – Hesiod names the nine Muses.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Pindar and Aeschylus use it for song itself.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Euripides uses it for a strain of music.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * Modern Greek – ''μούσα'' is a Muse or an inspiring person.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Proper noun===

+ # A [[m|en|Muse]], one of the goddesses of song and poetry, daughters of Zeus.^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(as a common noun)'' [[m|en|music|alt=Music]], [[m|en|song]], poetry.^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|Mūsa]]

+ * [[en|muse]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}